Sample Category Title

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9733; (P) 0.9761; (R1) 0.9814; More...

A temporary top is in place at 0.9799 and intraday bias in USD/CHF is turned neutral first. Further rally is in favor as long as 0.9657 minor support holds. Above 0.9799 will resume the rise from 0.9543 to retest 1.0063 high. Firm break there will resume larger up trend. However, break of 0.9567 will extend the correction from 1.0063 with another leg, and turn bias to the downside for 61.8% retracement of 0.9193 to 1.0063 at 0.9525.

In the bigger picture, down trend from 1.0342 (2016 high) should have completed with three waves down to 0.8756 (2021 low) already. Rise from 0.8756 is likely a medium term up trend of its own. Next target is 1.0237/0342 resistance zone. This will remain the favored case as long as 0.9471 resistance turned support holds. However, sustained break of 0.9471 will extend long term range trading with another falling leg.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.2500; (P) 1.2549; (R1) 1.2585; More...

Intraday bias in GBP/USD remains neutral as range trading continues. On the downside, break of 1.2429 support suggest that rebound from 1.2154 has completed. Intraday bias will be back on the downside for resting this low. On the upside, above 1.2666 will target 55 day EMA (now at 1.2698) and above.

In the bigger picture, fall from 1.4248 (2018 high) could be a leg inside the pattern from 1.1409 (2020 low), or resuming the longer term down trend. Deeper decline is expected as long as 1.2999 support turned resistance holds. On resumption, next target is 1.1409 low.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0676; (P) 1.0712 (R1) 1.0752; More...

EUR/USD rises notably today but stays in range below 1.0786 temporary top so far. Intraday bias remains neutral first. On the upside, break of 1.0786 will resume the rebound from 1.0348. Sustained trading above 55 day EMA (now at 1.0745) and 1.0805 support turned resistance will carry larger bullish implication. Intraday bias will be back on the upside for 1.1112 fibonacci resistance. On the downside, break of 1.0626 minor support will indicate rejection by 55 day EMA, and turn bias back to the downside for retesting 1.0348.

In the bigger picture, focus stays on 1.0339 long term support (2017 low). Decisive break there will resume whole down trend from 1.6039 (2008 high). Next target is 61.8% projection of 1.3993 to 1.0339 from 1.2348 at 1.0090. However, firm break of 1.0805 support turned resistance will delay this bearish case. Rise from 1.0348 is at least a correction to the down trend from 1.2348. Stronger rebound would be seen to 38.2% retracement of 1.2348 to 1.0348 at 1.1112.

Euro is attempting to rally after ECB surprisingly pre-commit to rate hikes in July and September. Germany 10-year yield also jumps to 1.45% in reaction. Commodity currencies turn slightly weaker on overall sluggish market sentiment. Dollar is mixed for now, and will need some fresh inspiration from tomorrow's CPI release. Meanwhile, Yen continues to digest recent losses, await next move.

Technically, EUR/AUD's break of 1.4965 minor resistance suggests that pull back from 1.5277 is over at 1.4759, and rebound from 1.4318 is in another rising leg to 1.5345 key resistance. EUR/CAD's breach of 1.3538 minor resistance also suggest short term bottoming at 1.3387, just ahead of 1.3383 low. Now, focus is on when EUR/USD will break through 1.0786 temporary top, and when EUR/GBP will break through 0.8617 resistance.

In Europe, at the time of writing, FTSE is down -0.82%. DAX is down -1.24%. CAC is down -1.05%. Germany 10-year yield is up 0.0842 at 1.440. Earlier in Asia, Nikkei rose 0.04%. Hong Kong HSI dropped -0.66%. China Shanghai SSE dropped -0.76%. Singapore Strait Times dropped -0.50%. Japan 10-year JGB yield rose 0.0024 to 0.250.

ECB ends net APP purchase, to hike 25bps in Jul, again and maybe larger in Sep

ECB leaves interest rates unchanged today as widely expected. That is, The main refinancing rate, marginal lending facility rate and deposit rate are held at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.50% respectively. However, it explicitly said, "the Governing Council intends to raise the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points at its July monetary policy meeting."

Besides, ECB said is expects to "raise the key ECB interest rates again in September". The size would depend on the updated medium-term inflation outlook by then. "If the medium-term inflation outlook persists or deteriorates, a larger increment will be appropriate at the September meeting," it added. Beyond September, "a gradual but sustained path of further increases in interest rates will be appropriate."

Also as expected, ECB decided to end net asset purchases as of July 1, 2022. It will "continue reinvesting, in full, the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the APP for an extended period of time past the date when it starts raising the key ECB interest rates and, in any case, for as long as necessary to maintain ample liquidity conditions and an appropriate monetary policy stance."

In the new economic projections, annual inflation will hit 6.8% in 2022, then decline to 3.l5% in 2023 and then 2.1% in 2024. Excluding energy and food, inflation is projected to it 3.3% in 3022, then slow to 2.8% in 2023 and then 2.3% in 2024. Inflation projections were revised up "significantly" due to surging energy and food prices, including due to the impact of war".

GDP growth is projected at 2.8% in 2022, 2.1% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024 (revised down slightly for 2022 and 2023, but up for 2024).

US initial jobless claims rose to 229k, continuing claims unchanged at 1.3m

US initial jobless claims rose 27k to 229k in the week ending June 4, above expectation of 208k. Four-week moving average of initial claims rose 8k to 215k.

Continuing claims was unchanged at 1306k in the week ending May 28. Four-week moving average of continuing claims dropped -9k to 1318k, lowest since January 10, 1970 when it was 1310k.

EUR/USD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0676; (P) 1.0712 (R1) 1.0752; More...

EUR/USD rises notably today but stays in range below 1.0786 temporary top so far. Intraday bias remains neutral first. On the upside, break of 1.0786 will resume the rebound from 1.0348. Sustained trading above 55 day EMA (now at 1.0745) and 1.0805 support turned resistance will carry larger bullish implication. Intraday bias will be back on the upside for 1.1112 fibonacci resistance. On the downside, break of 1.0626 minor support will indicate rejection by 55 day EMA, and turn bias back to the downside for retesting 1.0348.

In the bigger picture, focus stays on 1.0339 long term support (2017 low). Decisive break there will resume whole down trend from 1.6039 (2008 high). Next target is 61.8% projection of 1.3993 to 1.0339 from 1.2348 at 1.0090. However, firm break of 1.0805 support turned resistance will delay this bearish case. Rise from 1.0348 is at least a correction to the down trend from 1.2348. Stronger rebound would be seen to 38.2% retracement of 1.2348 to 1.0348 at 1.1112.

Economic Indicators Update

US initial jobless claims rose 27k to 229k in the week ending June 4, above expectation of 208k. Four-week moving average of initial claims rose 8k to 215k.

Continuing claims was unchanged at 1306k in the week ending May 28. Four-week moving average of continuing claims dropped -9k to 1318k, lowest since January 10, 1970 when it was 1310k.

Full release here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_utpAxGMYo

ECB leaves interest rates unchanged today as widely expected. That is, The main refinancing rate, marginal lending facility rate and deposit rate are held at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.50% respectively. However, it explicitly said, "the Governing Council intends to raise the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points at its July monetary policy meeting."

Besides, ECB said is expects to "raise the key ECB interest rates again in September". The size would depend on the updated medium-term inflation outlook by then. "If the medium-term inflation outlook persists or deteriorates, a larger increment will be appropriate at the September meeting," it added. Beyond September, "a gradual but sustained path of further increases in interest rates will be appropriate."

Also as expected, ECB decided to end net asset purchases as of July 1, 2022. It will "continue reinvesting, in full, the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the APP for an extended period of time past the date when it starts raising the key ECB interest rates and, in any case, for as long as necessary to maintain ample liquidity conditions and an appropriate monetary policy stance."

In the new economic projections, annual inflation will hit 6.8% in 2022, then decline to 3.l5% in 2023 and then 2.1% in 2024. Excluding energy and food, inflation is projected to it 3.3% in 3022, then slow to 2.8% in 2023 and then 2.3% in 2024. Inflation projections were revised up "significantly" due to surging energy and food prices, including due to the impact of war".

GDP growth is projected at 2.8% in 2022, 2.1% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024 (revised down slightly for 2022 and 2023, but up for 2024).

Full statement here.

High inflation is a major challenge for all of us. The Governing Council will make sure that inflation returns to its 2% target over the medium term.

In May inflation again rose significantly, mainly because of surging energy and food prices, including due to the impact of the war. But inflation pressures have broadened and intensified, with prices for many goods and services increasing strongly. Eurosystem staff have revised their baseline inflation projections up significantly. These projections indicate that inflation will remain undesirably elevated for some time. However, moderating energy costs, the easing of supply disruptions related to the pandemic and the normalisation of monetary policy are expected to lead to a decline in inflation. The new staff projections foresee annual inflation at 6.8% in 2022, before it is projected to decline to 3.5% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024 – higher than in the March projections. This means that headline inflation at the end of the projection horizon is projected to be slightly above the Governing Council's target. Inflation excluding energy and food is projected to average 3.3% in 2022, 2.8% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2024 – also above the March projections.

Russia's unjustified aggression towards Ukraine continues to weigh on the economy in Europe and beyond. It is disrupting trade, is leading to shortages of materials, and is contributing to high energy and commodity prices. These factors will continue to weigh on confidence and dampen growth, especially in the near term. However, the conditions are in place for the economy to continue to grow on account of the ongoing reopening of the economy, a strong labour market, fiscal support and savings built up during the pandemic. Once current headwinds abate, economic activity is expected to pick up again. This outlook is broadly reflected in the Eurosystem staff projections, which foresee annual real GDP growth at 2.8% in 2022, 2.1% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024. Compared with the March projections, the outlook has been revised down significantly for 2022 and 2023, while for 2024 it has been revised up.

On the basis of its updated assessment, the Governing Council decided to take further steps in normalising its monetary policy. Throughout this process, the Governing Council will maintain optionality, data-dependence, gradualism and flexibility in the conduct of monetary policy.

Asset purchase programme (APP) and pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP)

The Governing Council decided to end net asset purchases under its asset purchase programme (APP) as of 1 July 2022. The Governing Council intends to continue reinvesting, in full, the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the APP for an extended period of time past the date when it starts raising the key ECB interest rates and, in any case, for as long as necessary to maintain ample liquidity conditions and an appropriate monetary policy stance.

As concerns the pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP), the Governing Council intends to reinvest the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the programme until at least the end of 2024. In any case, the future roll-off of the PEPP portfolio will be managed to avoid interference with the appropriate monetary policy stance.

In the event of renewed market fragmentation related to the pandemic, PEPP reinvestments can be adjusted flexibly across time, asset classes and jurisdictions at any time. This could include purchasing bonds issued by the Hellenic Republic over and above rollovers of redemptions in order to avoid an interruption of purchases in that jurisdiction, which could impair the transmission of monetary policy to the Greek economy while it is still recovering from the fallout from the pandemic. Net purchases under the PEPP could also be resumed, if necessary, to counter negative shocks related to the pandemic.

Key ECB interest rates

The Governing Council undertook a careful review of the conditions which, according to its forward guidance, should be satisfied before it starts raising the key ECB interest rates. As a result of this assessment, the Governing Council concluded that those conditions have been satisfied.

Accordingly, and in line with the Governing Council's policy sequencing, the Governing Council intends to raise the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points at its July monetary policy meeting. In the meantime, the Governing Council decided to leave the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility unchanged at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.50% respectively.

Looking further ahead, the Governing Council expects to raise the key ECB interest rates again in September. The calibration of this rate increase will depend on the updated medium-term inflation outlook. If the medium-term inflation outlook persists or deteriorates, a larger increment will be appropriate at the September meeting.

Beyond September, based on its current assessment, the Governing Council anticipates that a gradual but sustained path of further increases in interest rates will be appropriate. In line with the Governing Council's commitment to its 2% medium-term target, the pace at which the Governing Council adjusts its monetary policy will depend on the incoming data and how it assesses inflation to develop in the medium term.

Refinancing operations

The Governing Council will continue to monitor bank funding conditions and ensure that the maturing of operations under the third series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO III) does not hamper the smooth transmission of its monetary policy. The Governing Council will also regularly assess how targeted lending operations are contributing to its monetary policy stance. As announced previously, the special conditions applicable under TLTRO III will end on 23 June 2022.

***

The Governing Council stands ready to adjust all of its instruments, incorporating flexibility if warranted, to ensure that inflation stabilises at its 2% target over the medium term. The pandemic has shown that, under stressed conditions, flexibility in the design and conduct of asset purchases has helped to counter the impaired transmission of monetary policy and made the Governing Council's efforts to achieve its goal more effective. Within the ECB's mandate, under stressed conditions, flexibility will remain an element of monetary policy whenever threats to monetary policy transmission jeopardise the attainment of price stability.

The President of the ECB will comment on the considerations underlying these decisions at a press conference starting at 14:30 CET today.

It has been a quiet week for the euro, and that trend has continued today, as EUR/USD is unchanged at 1.0718.

All eyes on ECB

The ECB is poised to end its accommodative policy at today’s meeting, but there is plenty of uncertainty and anticipation ahead of the announcement. The central bank has signalled that it plans to tighten policy but has been short on details. ECB President Lagarde has stated that rates will lift off after its asset purchase programme ends. With a rate hike widely expected at the July meeting, that adds up to QE winding up at the end of June. That still leaves plenty of variables in play. Will the ECB hike by a moderate 25bp or a massive 50bp? What will be the pace of the rate-hike cycle?

As for today’s meeting, a rate hike is unlikely but cannot be ruled out, with inflation continuing to accelerate. If the ECB doesn’t raise rates today and suffices with terminating QE, the driver for euro movement in today’s session will be Lagarde’s press conference. A hawkish tone could give the euro a lift, while if Lagarde sounds more dovish than the markets were expecting, the euro could lose ground.

Key to the size of the rate hike in July will be today’s updated inflation and GDP forecasts. The war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks make it likely that inflation will be revised upwards and growth downwards, raising fears of staglation. If the inflation report is worse than expected, there will be more pressure on the ECB to consider a 50bp hike in July.

EUR/USD Technical

• EUR/USD faces resistance at 1.0796 and 1.0871
• There is weak support at 1.0711, followed by support at 1.0636

The British Pound is retreating for a second day, returning below the 1.25 level, failing to build on the positive momentum at the start of the week.

The pressure appears to be driven by rising government bond yields in global markets, starting with but not limited to the US.

The intraday dynamics of GBPUSD show methodical intraday selling. This is another sign of the rebound’s local exhaustion, and we might expect a new round of declines later.

A pullback of the FTSE100 from the local highs above 7600 is also working against the Pound. The British currency often has a positive correlation to the demand for risks, and its reduction contributes to selling the Pound in forex.

The final point of a new move down could be the 1.1500 area – near the March 2020 low. But before directing the pair to these historical levels, the bears have yet to prove their strength. The first test of the sellers’ intentions may be in this week’s low, at 1.2430.

Should it fail below May’s low at 1.2150, there may be a more meaningful signal. The GBPUSD could make its first move today in case of a sell-off in the equity markets. A move to test 1.2150 could take a couple of weeks.