STORY LINK Pound to Euro Exchange Rate Today: GBP Lower as UK GDP Misses Forecasts

The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate edged lower on Wednesday following the UK’s latest GDP release.

At the time of writing GBP/EUR was trading at €1.1847, down approximately 0.2% from Wednesday’s opening rate.

The Pound (GBP) faced a downturn following the release of the UK’s GDP figures on Wednesday.

Contrary to the anticipated growth of 0.2%, the economy showed no growth in July, deviating from the previous month’s 0.2% expansion.

Additionally, July’s industrial output in Britain saw a decline of 0.8%, contrary to the expected increase of 0.3%. Manufacturing output also declined by 1%, falling short of the forecasted 0.2% rise.

However, despite signs of a weakened economic landscape in the UK, analysts believe that these figures will not heavily influence the Bank of England’s current trajectory towards policy easing.

Luke Bartholomew, Deputy Chief Economist at abrdn, noted:

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‘The broader trend remains solid, although it is likely that the underlying pace of growth will slow somewhat over the second half of the year.
Certainly, there is no reason yet for the Bank and England to feel it needs to speed up the pace of rate cuts, and we expect the Bank to keep interest rates on hold next week.’

As a result, the Pound’s depreciation was minimal, with only slight losses noted against major currencies on Wednesday.

The Euro (EUR) displayed limited fluctuations against the majority of its significant trading partners on Wednesday, as market participants held back from making substantial moves ahead of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) highly anticipated interest rate decision.

The ECB is set to announce its decision on Thursday afternoon, with market consensus leaning heavily towards a 25 basis-point reduction in interest rates. This expectation has been largely priced into the market, reflecting a cautious optimism among investors.

Michael Field, Strategist at Morningstar, commented:

‘With 85% of economists polled expecting a 25 basis point rate cut by the ECB, it’s safe to say the markets will be disappointed if this doesn’t happen. When expectations are so unified though, generally it’s for a reason. In fact, two reasons that we can clearly identify.’

Amid a series of lacklustre economic reports from the Eurozone, the anticipated confirmation of a rate cut by the ECB could potentially lead to a weakening of the Euro against its global counterparts. Investors are closely monitoring the situation, gauging the potential impacts on the currency’s performance in the near term.

Looking forward, markets are keenly awaiting to see if the ECB opts for a rate cut, which could lead to a depreciation of the Euro. Conversely, should the ECB surprise markets by holding rates steady, the euro might find unexpected strength against its counterparts.

Looking to the Pound, a lack of substantial economic releases in the UK could leave GBP somewhat adrift, potentially causing Sterling to trade erratically or without clear direction.

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TAGS: Pound Euro Forecasts

• The Pound Sterling staged a late rebound against the US Dollar, with 1.3000 tested.
• GBP/USD awaits a fresh directional impetus from the UK CPI data and Fed, BoE decisions.
• Pound Sterling buyers fight back control above 21-day SMA, as the daily RSI flips bullish.

The Pound Sterling (GBP) stalled its correction from over two-year highs against the US Dollar (USD) and staged an impressive comeback, with the GBP/USD pair having tested the critical 1.3000 threshold.

Pound Sterling – A tale of two halves

GBP/USD witnessed good two-way price action, correcting sharply to a three-week low of 1.3002 in the first half of the week only to recover the weekly losses in the latter part. The sentiment around the pair was mainly driven by the dynamics of the US Dollar. The Greenback continued to remain at the mercy of the market’s expectations on the size of the interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) in the upcoming week.

The August US labor market data fuelled a late recovery in the USD against its major rivals last week, which extended well into this week and weighed heavily on the GBP/USD pair. US Nonfarm Payrolls rose by 142,000, missing a 160,000 gain estimated. On the other hand, the Unemployment Rate edged down to 4.2%, in line with expectations.

Discouraging US employment data rekindled worries about a possible economic downturn and lifted the haven demand for the Greenback. Markets continued to run for cover in the buck, bracing for the critical US inflation data on Wednesday. Data published by the US Bureau of Labour Statics (BLS) showed Wednesday that the CPI rose 0.2% MoM in August, aligning with the expected 0.2% print. US August core CPI jumped 0.3% MoM vs. estimates of 0.2%. Sticky underlying inflation figures prompted markets to rule out an outsized Fed rate cut this month.

The Pound Sterling also felt the heat from softer UK pay growth and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data released on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Average Earnings excluding Bonus in the UK rose 5.1% 3M YoY in July versus a 5.4% growth seen in June.  The UK economy showed no growth over the month in July after stalling in June, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Wednesday, missing the expected 0.2% growth.

These fundamental factors dragged GBP/USD to the lowest level in three weeks to just above the 1.3000 level. Buyers, however, managed to defend that key level, as the US Dollar saw a fresh selling wave on dismal US Producers Price Index (PPI) and Jobless Claims data, which reinforced bets of a 50 basis points (bps) rate reduction by the Fed at its September 18 policy announcement.

Annually, the headline PPI rose 1.7% in August, compared to the market consensus of a 1.8%  print. The core PPI increased by 2.4% YoY in the same period, below the estimate of 2.5%. Meanwhile, the Initial Jobless Claims came in at 230,000 for the week ended Sept. 7, up 2,000 from the previous period while aligning with the forecast. Dismal US data combined with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article on the Fed’s rate cut dilemma brought back bets for a jumbo cut at the September meeting, smashing the Greenback while propping up GBP/USD back above 1.3100.

Markets are now pricing in a 43% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 50 bps, up from 27% a day earlier, with a 57% probability of a 25 bps cut, the CME Group’s FedWatch tool showed. Increased dovish Fed expectations exacerbated the US Dollar’s pain on Friday. The last data release from the US showed ahead of the weekend that the consumer confidence improved slightly in early September, with the preliminary University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index edging higher to 69 from 67.9 in August. This reading came in above the market expectation of 68 but failed to help the USD stage a rebound.

Week ahead: All eyes on UK CPI data, Fed and BoE verdicts

All eyes now turn to the high-impact UK CPI inflation report and the all-important Fed and BoE policy announcements, which will determine the next directional move in the GBP/USD pair.

It’s a quiet start to the big central banks’ week, with no relevant data to be released on Monday. Tuesday will feature the US Retail Sales data while the UK docket remains data-dry.

Wednesday is a busy one, with the UK inflation data slated for release before the key Fed verdict and Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference.

It’s not a ‘Super Thursday’, as the BoE will only announce its rate decision without the update projections and Governor Andrew Bailey’s presser to follow. That same day, the US calendar will see the publication of the weekly Jobless Claims, Existing Home Sales and Philly Fed Manufacturing data.

On Friday, the UK will release the Retail Sales data, as traders will look to a speech from BoE policymaker Cathrine Mann.

Fed policymakers will also return to the rostrum on Friday, as the Fed’s ‘blackout period’ comes to an end. 

GBP/USD: Technical Outlook

As observed on the daily chart, the GBP/USD pair defied bearish pressures and managed to find its footing above the key support at 1.3045 (July 17 high), having tested bids briefly at 1.3000.

On the road to recovery, the pair recaptured the 21-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.3119 on a daily closing basis, negating the bearish outlook in the near term.

Adding credence to the renewed upside, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) has regained the 50 level, currently near 58.00.

On the upside, GBP/USD must crack the falling trendline resistance at 1.3218 before aiming for the 29-month high of 1.3266. 

Further up, Pound Sterling buyers will find the next relevant resistance levels at the 1.3300 round level and the 1.3350 psychological barrier. 

Should buyers face rejection at the abovementioned trendline barrier at 1.3218, a correction could unfold toward the July 17 high of 1.3045.

A failure to sustain above that level could trigger a fresh decline toward the 50-day SMA at 1.2964.

The next relevant cushion aligns at the March 8 top of 1.2894, a break below which the 100-day SMA support at 1.2819 will come into play.

• Former Fed official Bill Dudley said that there was a strong case for a 50 bps rate cut.

• The likelihood of a 50 bps rate cut shot up from 28% to 45%.

• BoJ board member Naoki Tamura noted that the upside risk to inflation was increasing. 

The USD/JPY outlook shows a free-falling dollar as markets move to price in a higher likelihood of a super-sized Fed rate cut next week. At the same time, the yen strengthened as more Bank of Japan policymakers took on a hawkish tone. 

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On Thursday, the dollar fell to a fresh low for the year after reports that the Fed might consider a 50 bps rate cut at next week’s meeting. Moreover, former Fed official Bill Dudley said that there was a strong case for a 50 bps rate cut. As a result, the likelihood of a 50 bps rate cut shot up from 28% to 45%. Data on Wednesday showed that core consumer inflation beat expectations in August. Therefore, market participants increased the likelihood of a 25 bps rate cut, boosting the dollar.

Furthermore, data on Friday revealed that wholesale inflation was higher than expected. Recent data has pointed to a gradual pace for rate cuts. However, the reports on Friday showed that policymakers might consider a bigger cut.

Meanwhile, the yen was strong after another policymaker supported more rate hikes. BoJ board member Naoki Tamura noted that the upside risk to inflation was increasing. Higher inflation creates the best conditions for the Bank of Japan to hike interest rates.

USD/JPY key events today

Investors do not expect any key economic reports from the US or Japan. Therefore, the pair might extend Thursday’s move.

USD/JPY technical outlook: Bearish momentum eases near the 141.02 support

On the technical side, the USD/JPY price is on the brink of falling below the 141.02 support level. The bias is bearish as the price has made a series of lower highs and lows, indicating a downtrend. However, the decline has slowed near the 141.02 key level. It is becoming harder for the price to make lower lows.

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At the same time, the RSI has made a bullish divergence, indicating fading bearish momentum. If this is the end of the road for bears, the price might bounce higher from 14.02 to challenge the 30-SMA resistance. A break above the SMA would confirm a shift in sentiment. On the other hand, if bears remain in charge, the price will stay below the SMA.

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• EUR/USD continues to push higher after posting strong gains on Thursday.
• Technical buyers could take action in case the pair flips 1.1100 into support.
• European Central Bank lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points.

After closing the first three days of the week in negative territory, EUR/USD gathered bullish momentum on Thursday and registered strong gains. The pair continues to edge higher toward 1.1100 in the European morning on Friday.

The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered the benchmark interest rate, the deposit facility, by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.5% as expected. The ECB also lowered interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the main refinancing operations by 60 bps. “The Governing Council will continue to follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate level and duration of restriction,” the ECB noted in the policy statement. In the post-meeting press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde refrained from hinting at the timing of the next rate cut.

Although the ECB event failed to provide a boost to the Euro, the renewed selling pressure surrounding the US Dollar (USD) helped EUR/USD turn north.

On a yearly basis, the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 1.7% in August in the US, down from 2.1% in July and below the market expectation of 1.8%. The probability of a 50 bps Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September climbed above 40% after this data, per CME FedWatch Tool, and triggered a USD selloff.

The US economic calendar will feature the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Survey for September, which is unlikely to influence the USD’s valuation.

EUR/USD Technical Analysis

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the 4-hour chart climbed above 60 and EUR/USD rose slightly above the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA), reflecting a buildup of bullish momentum. In case the pair clears 1.1090-1.1100 resistance area (100-period SMA, Fibonacci 23.6% retracement of the latest uptrend), it could target 1.1160 (static level) and 1.1200 (end-point of the uptrend) next.

On the downside, 1.1060 (50-period SMA) aligns as first support before 1.1040 (Fibonacci 38.2% retracement) and 1.1020 (200-period SMA).

• In my daily analysis of the Forex world, the GBP/JPY pair has caught my attention.
• All things being equal, this is a pair that is highly sensitive to risk appetite, and therefore you need to pay close attention to the market in general, as the ¥185 level is very important from a support standpoint.
• Ultimately, the market had formed a massive hammer during the trading session on Wednesday, only to turn around and show signs of strength during the Thursday session.

Is this a floor?

The question at this point in time will be whether or not there is going to be a bit of a floor in the market in this general vicinity, but there are a lot of questions asked of the markets as to whether or not we are going to see people be willing to jump in and take advantage of any type of “risk on behavior” that could come into the psyche.

Ultimately, this is a market that I think continues to see a lot of noise and it, which is typical of “The Dragon”, which is obviously one of the premier carry trade markets. If we can go higher, the market could send the British pound to the ¥190 level, perhaps even the 200-Day EMA indicator. On the other hand, if we were to turn around and break down below the bottom of the hammer from the Wednesday session, the market could really start to fall at that point in time, perhaps initially reaching the ¥180 level. Anything below there could send this market plunging much lower and it would probably have a lot to do with the risk out there falling apart, that could send a lot of panic into the market, which will be supercharged buy this market.

I think this is a situation where we continue to see a lot of instability, and therefore you need to be cautious with your position size, but it certainly looks like we are at least trying to turn around and go higher.

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For now, the pair is in a consolidation phase, waiting for clearer direction from economic data or market catalysts.

Euro Faces Pressure Amid ECB Decision

The Euro (EUR) faces renewed pressure following the European Central Bank’s (ECB) decision to maintain its Main Refinancing Rate at 3.65%, as widely expected. However, the French Final CPI released earlier showed a slight miss, reinforcing concerns over inflation dynamics.

Meanwhile, industrial production data, due later today, is expected to decline by -0.6%, further weighing on economic sentiment.

Traders will also focus on the ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings for policy insights. The outlook for the Euro remains uncertain, with any surprises in the upcoming data or statements likely to impact the currency’s short-term trajectory.

EUR/USD Technical Forecast

The EUR/USD is trading at $1.10775, up 0.11%, but facing resistance near $1.10910, a crucial pivot point. If the pair breaks above this level, we could see more bullish momentum toward the next resistance at $1.11201 and beyond.

Short-term Forecast for USD/JPY

USD/JPY trends will likely hinge on the Michigan numbers. Upward trends in the Michigan data could temper bets on Q4 2024 Fed rate cuts, possibly pushing the USD/JPY toward 143. However, investors should also consider Bank of Japan commentary and support for Q4 rate hikes.

Investors should remain alert. US consumer sentiment and central bank chatter will likely influence the BoJ and the Fed’s rate paths. Monitor real-time data, central bank insights, and expert commentary to adjust your trading strategies accordingly. Stay updated with our latest news and analysis to manage USD/JPY volatility.

USD/JPY Price Action

Daily Chart

The USD/JPY hovered below the 50-day and 200-day EMAs, confirming bearish price trends.

A USD/JPY breakout from the 142.500 level could indicate a move toward the 143.495 resistance level. Furthermore, a break above the 143.495 resistance level may give the bulls a run at 145 and the 145.891 resistance level.

Bank of Japan commentary and the Michigan Consumer Sentiment numbers require consideration.

Conversely, a break below the 141.032 support level and the September 11 low of 140.706 could indicate a fall through 140.

The 14-day RSI at 31.52 indicates a USD/JPY break below the 141.032 support level before entering oversold territory.

US Dollar vs Japanese Yen Technical Analysis

The US dollar has stabilized a bit in the early hours on Thursday against the Japanese yen as we continue to hang around the 142 yen level. This is an area that’s been important multiple times, so it’s not a huge surprise to see that it has come back into the psyche of the market. The question now is whether or not the hammer that we formed on Wednesday leads to gains on Thursday, but so far it has been slightly positive.

We get the PPI number, so that of course will have its own influence, but ultimately the market seemingly is okay with the idea of inflation still being a little bit sticky, so we’ll have to wait and see. But the 18th features the Federal Reserve interest rate decision, which should be a 25 basis point cut. And at this point, I think it’s pretty obvious that has been priced into the market in spades, as it were.

The question now is what will the Bank of Japan do just two days later? I think they are somewhat limited in their ability to hike rates, so the interest rate differential should continue to favor the US dollar, and I do think that sooner or later that will attract inflows.

If we can break above the 145 yen level above, then we could really start to take off, but right now it looks like we’re doing the thing that we need to do to get things turned around initially, and that’s just simply stop falling. If we were to break down below the 141 yen level, it would be an extraordinarily negative turn of events, perhaps opening up a trap door, as if it were in this pair, allowing it to drop much farther.

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:

• The GBP/USD exchange rate recorded an increase in mid-week trading, with some analysts attributing the weakness of the US dollar to the strong performance of US presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
• However, its gains that reached the resistance level of 1.3111 evaporated quickly with the US dollar’s gains against other major currencies following the announcement of US inflation figures through the Consumer Price Index.
• As a result, the GBP/USD pair plummeted to the psychological support level of 1.3000 and is currently stabilizing around the 1.3045 level.

Commenting on the performance of the forex market, Francesco Pisol, a forex market analyst at ING N.V., said: “The weakness of the dollar (and bitcoin) across the board, the outperformance of Asian emerging market currencies, and the weakness of US equity futures are consistent with polls suggesting that Harris outperformed Trump in the first presidential debate.”

Registered voters who watched Tuesday’s presidential debate between Trump and Harris “overwhelmingly” agreed that Kamala Harris outperformed Donald Trump, according to a CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS. The vice president also exceeded the expectations of debate watchers for her performance and Joe Biden’s performance on the stage against the former president earlier this year, according to the poll. According to analysts, “The US dollar has weakened by about 0.3% after the US presidential debate,” and “Based on the reaction of financial markets, Vice President Harris is the winner of the presidential debate.”

Overall, the PredictIt betting market shows that US Vice President Harris now has a 10-point lead over President Trump compared to nearly equal odds before the debate. Regarding the debate, the position among forex analysts is that a Trump presidency would, on the whole, be supportive of US dollar exchange rates. Harris’ strong performance is pushing back against this outcome and the dollar.

Meanwhile, financial markets appear to have given Harris a point victory. In the forex market, a Trump win is linked to the strength of the US dollar, which is trading on the weak side across the board.

The GBP/USD exchange rate was under pressure in September, with the strong rally seen in late August tapering off. Analysts say that September is a seasonally strong month for the US dollar, but it could weaken later in the year amid a number of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

However, one area of ​​uncertainty is the outcome of the presidential election, meaning the debate was closely watched by markets.

According to Forex trading, the conversion of the British pound to the US dollar fell to 1.3000 on Tuesday before recovering to 1.3111 on Wednesday, although the release of disappointing UK GDP had a negative impact.

What happened to the US inflation figures?

The rise in US inflation after the pandemic slowed further last month as annual price increases hit a three-year low, paving the way for the Federal Reserve to cut US interest rates and likely shape the economic debate in the final weeks of the presidential race. A Wednesday report from the Labor Department showed that US consumer prices rose 2.5% in August compared to a year ago, down from 2.9% in July. This was the fifth consecutive annual decline and the smallest since February 2021. From July to August, prices rose by just 0.2%.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices rose 3.2% in August compared to a year ago, the same as in July. On a monthly basis, core prices rose 0.3%, a slight rebound from July’s 0.2% increase. Economists are closely watching core prices, which typically provide a better reading of future inflation trends.

For months, the slowdown in inflation has provided gradual relief to American consumers, who have been hit by rising prices that began three years ago, especially for food, gas, rent, and other necessities. Historically, Inflation peaked in mid-2022 at 9.1%, the highest rate in four decades. American wages have been rising steadily over the past three years. Even total incomes have outpaced inflation for nearly 18 months, helping more families cope with higher prices. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Statistics reported that the median US family income, adjusted for inflation, rose 4% last year to more than $80,000, which is essentially in line with the 2019 peak.

Wednesday’s inflation figures came on the heels of a Tuesday night presidential debate in which former US President Donald Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris over the rise in prices that began a few months after the Biden-Harris administration took office, when global supply chains were disrupted and caused a severe shortage of parts and Labor.

Technical forecasts for the GBP/USD pair today:

The formation of the downward channel for the GBP/USD is still clear and strong, and breaking below 1.3000 could be an easy target for bears. Also, after which the next important support will be 1.2880, which is the beginning of the technical indicators moving towards strong oversold levels. Conversely, based on the daily chart performance, a return to the 1.3200 resistance will be important to predict the strength of the upward trend again. Technically, we still prefer selling GBP/USD from any upward level. Today, GBP/USD will be affected by the announcement of the rest of the US inflation figures, the Producer Price Index, as well as the weekly US unemployment claims.

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Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), explains the ECB’s decision to lower the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at the September policy meeting and responds to questions from the press.

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ECB press conference key quotes

“The recovery if facing headwinds, based on surveys.”

“Recovery is expected to strengthen.”

“Fading monetary policy restriction should support the economy.”

“The labor market is resilient.”

“Surveys point to further moderation in demand for labor.”

“Negotiated wage growth will remain high and volatile for the rest of 2024.”

“Overall labor cost growth is moderating.”

“Unit labor costs expected to continue to decline.”

“Risks to growth are skewed to the downside.”

“Wages, profits, trade tensions potential upside risks for inflation.”

“We have reinforced confidence in solidity, robustness of projections.”

“Declining path for rates is pretty obvious.”

“September will deliver low inflation reading.”

“Inflation to rise again in Q4.”

“Relatively short time to October meeting.”

“No commitment of any kind about October.”

“We need to be attentive to risk of below target inflation.”

“Services inflation requires attention, monitoring.”

“Expecting services inflation to decline in 2025.”

This section below was published at 12:15 GMT to cover the European Central Bank’s policy statement and the immediate market reaction.

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Thursday that it lowered the interest rate on the marginal lending facility to 3.9% from 4.5% and the deposit facility, also known as the benchmark interest rate, by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.5% as expected. The ECB also cut the interest rate on the main refinancing operations by 60 bps to 3.65%.

In its monetary policy statement, the ECB noted that it is now appropriate to take another step in moderating the degree of monetary policy restriction, based on the Governing Council’s updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.

ECB policy statement key takeaways

“Governing Council is determined to ensure that inflation returns to its 2% medium-term target in a timely manner.”

“Inflation is expected to rise again in the latter part of this year.”

“Will keep policy rates sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary to achieve this aim.”

“Governing Council will continue to follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate level and duration of restriction.”

“Domestic inflation remains high as wages are still rising at an elevated pace.”

“In particular, its interest rate decisions will be based on its assessment of the inflation outlook in light of the incoming economic and financial data, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.”

“Labour cost pressures are moderating, and profits are partially buffering the impact of higher wages on inflation.”

“Governing Council is not pre-committing to a particular rate path.”

“Financing conditions remain restrictive, and economic activity is still subdued.”

ECB projections

“Staff project that the economy will grow by 0.8% in 2024, rising to 1.3% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026.”

“Inflation forecast: 2.5% in 2024, 2.2% in 2025 and 1.9% in 2026, as in the June projections.”

“New core inflation forecast: 2.3% in 2025 and 2.0% in 2026.”

Market reaction to ECB policy decisions

The ECB’s policy announcements failed to trigger a noticeable reaction in the Euro. At the time of press, EUR/USD was trading virtually unchanged on the day at 1.1015.

This section below was published as a preview of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) policy decisions at 07:00 GMT.

• The European Central Bank is expected to cut key rates by 25 bps at the September policy meeting.
• ECB President Christine Lagarde’s presser and updated economic forecasts will be closely scrutinized for fresh policy cues.
• The ECB policy announcements are set to inject volatility around the EUR/USD pair.

The European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate decision will be announced alongside the publication of the staff’s updated economic projections following the September monetary policy meeting due on Thursday at 12:15 GMT.

ECB President Christine Lagarde’s press conference will follow, beginning at 12:45 GMT, where she will deliver the prepared statement on monetary policy and respond to media questions. The ECB announcements are likely to rock the Euro (EUR) against the US Dollar (USD).

What to expect from the European Central Bank interest rate decision?

After standing pat on interest rates in July, the ECB is widely expected to reduce benchmark interest rate, the deposit facility, by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.50%. As for the marginal lending facility and the main refinancing operations rate, the consensus has changed to a 60-basis-points cut to 3.9% and 3.65%, respectively. This comes after the ECB’s review of the operational framework, which stated that the spread between the deposit rate and the main refinancing operations rate would be reduced to 15 basis points as from September 18.

In June’s post-policy meeting press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde said that “we are determined not to have a predetermined rate path. September decision is wide open.” “September projections, plus other data, will be taken into account,” Lagarde added.

The accounts of the July ECB meeting showed that September “was widely seen as a good time to re-evaluate” the level of monetary policy restriction.

Since the July meeting, the Eurozone inflation cooled off significantly, returning closer to the central bank’s 2.0% target.

Eurostat’s preliminary data showed on August 30 that the Harmonised Index Of Consumer Prices (HICP) across the currency bloc rose 2.2% over the year in August, marking the lowest annual inflation rate since July 2021. Meanwhile, the Euro area negotiated wages increased at an annual pace of 3.55% in Q2 2024 after rising 4.74% in the first quarter of this year.

The ECB accounts combined with a sharp decline in the pace of wage growth, cooling inflation and weakening Euro area business activity indicate that a rate reduction is a given on Thursday. 

Therefore, the ECB’s communication on the path forward and its outlook on inflation and growth will hold the key for the market’s pricing of the future rate cuts and the Euro’s (EUR) next directional move.

Previewing the ECB meeting, TD Securities analysts said: “A 25bps cut is a near-certainty. What matters will be guidance beyond September, where there’s strong pressure on both sides. Wage growth and services inflation remain strong (emboldening the hawks), while growth indicators are flagging softer (emboldening the doves).” “Lagarde is unlikely to rule out an October cut, but quarterly cuts are likely more consistent with the new projections,” the analysts added.

How could the ECB meeting impact EUR/USD?

Heading into the ECB showdown, the Euro is clinging to recovery gains, with EUR/USD reversing from monthly lows of 1.1020. The pair’s fate hinges on the ECB’s outlook on interest rates beyond September.

ECB President Christine Lagarde is likely to stick to the bank’s data-dependent stance and refrain from giving a certain response on the next rate cut move. Unless the policy statement, or Lagarde, hints at more rate reduction coming in the final quarter of this year, the EUR/USD recovery is seen gathering further traction.

Conversely, the Euro could come under renewed selling pressure if the staff projections show downward revisions to both the inflation and economic growth outlook. Meanwhile, Lagarde’s increased confidence in the disinflation progress could also revive Euro sellers. These factors could double down on the dovish expectations, fuelling the resumption of the recent EUR/USD downtrend.

Dhwani Mehta, Asian Session Lead Analyst at FXStreet, offers a brief technical outlook for EUR/USD:

“EUR/USD maintains its bearish streak, especially after the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator returned below the 50 level on the daily chart. If sellers flex their muscles, the immediate support of the 50-day SMA at 1.0964 will be tested. Further south, the pair could aim for the strong demand area near 1.0870, where the 100-day SMA and the 200-day SMA coincide.”

“On the upside, the pair needs to find acceptance above the 21-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.1082 on a daily closing basis to sustain the recovery toward the September 6 high of 1.1155, above which the 1.1200 psychological level will challenge bearish commitments.”