EUR/USD slides below 1.1100 as Eurozone PMI surprisingly contracts

23 Sep 2024, 08:09 by Sagar Dua · FXStreet

EUR/USD falls sharply below 1.1100 on weak Eurozone preliminary Purchasing Managers’ Index data of September.
ECB policymakers appear to be increasingly concerned about inflation remaining persistent.
Markets expect the Fed to deliver a second consecutive 50 bps interest-rate cut in November.

EUR/USD drops sharply as the US Dollar (USD) gains ground despite growing speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will continue to opt for a larger-than-usual 50 basis points (bps) interest rate cut in the November meeting, as it delivered last Wednesday, amid growing concerns over job growth. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the likelihood of the Fed reducing interest rates by 50 bps to 4.25%-4.50% in November has increased to 51.7% from 29.3% a week ago.

On the contrary, the latest Reuters poll to economists shows that the central bank will cut the federal fund rates by 25 bps in each of the monetary policy meetings to be held in November and December.

Meanwhile, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman issued a statement on Friday explaining why she was against the decision to begin the policy-easing cycle with a 50-bps rate cut. Bowman, which voted to kick off the rate-cut process with a 25 bps cut, said a larger reduction could stoke overall demand given that inflationary pressures have yet not returned to the bank’s target of 2%.

On the United States (US) economic data front, investors will focus on the preliminary S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for September, which will be published at 13:45 GMT. The report is expected to show that the Manufacturing PMI came in higher at 48.5 than August’s print of 47.9 but remains below the 50.0 threshold. In the same period, the services PMI is estimated to decline to 55.2 from the former reading of 55.7.

Daily digest market movers: EUR/USD falls on weak Eurozone economic health

EUR/USD faces sharp selling pressure and falls below the crucial support of 1.1100 in Monday’s European session. The major currency pair weakens on multiple headwinds: poor Eurozone Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for September and a sharp recovery in the US Dollar (USD).
The Eurozone Composite PMI surprisingly contracted to 49.0. Economists expected that activities in the overall economy to have grown at a slower pace to 50.6 from 51.0 in August. A sharp contraction in the overall economic activity was majorly driven by weakness in the manufacturing sector and a slower expansion in the service sector activity.
Commenting on the flash PMI data, Dr. Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said, “The eurozone is heading towards stagnation. After the Olympic effect had temporarily boosted France, the eurozone heavyweight economy, the Composite PMI fell in September to the largest extent in 15 months. The index has now dipped below the expansionary threshold. Considering the rapid decline in new orders and the order backlog, it doesn't take much imagination to foresee a further weakening of the economy.
Signs of further weakness would increase market speculation for a third interest rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) in October. Meanwhile, the latest comments from ECB policymakers have indicated that they are more concerned about price pressures remaining persistent. ECB policymakers have emphasized the need for more data pointing to a further slowdown in inflation. On Friday, ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said that he wants to see more good inflation data before slicing interest rates further. "We will have more information in December than in October," Guindos said.

Technical Analysis: EUR/USD slumps below 1.1100

EUR/USD dips below 1.1100 in European trading hours. The near-term outlook of the currency pair is expected to find interim support near the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near 1.1090.

The outlook of the major currency pair would remain firm till it hold the breakout of the Rising Channel chart pattern formed on a daily time frame near the psychological support of 1.1000.

The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) moves lower to 55, suggesting momentum is weakening

Looking up, the round-level resistance of 1.1200 will act as a major barricade for the Euro bulls. A decisive break above the same would drive the asset toward July 2023 high of 1.1276. On the downside, the psychological level of 1.1000 and the July 17 high near 1.0950 will be major support zones.

Economic Indicator

HCOB Composite PMI

The Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis by S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), is a leading indicator gauging private-business activity in the Eurozone for both the manufacturing and services sectors. The data is derived from surveys to senior executives. Each response is weighted according to the size of the company and its contribution to total manufacturing or services output accounted for by the sub-sector to which that company belongs. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month and can anticipate changing trends in official data series such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial production, employment and inflation. The index varies between 0 and 100, with levels of 50.0 signaling no change over the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates that the private economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the Euro (EUR). Meanwhile, a reading below 50 signals that activity is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for EUR.