- Euro (EUR) under pressure despite German retail sales jumping 3.1% MoM
- ECB President Christine Lagarde warns over low inflation
- US Dollar (USD) rises after chaotic US Presidential debate
- US ADP private payroll figures in focus
After rallying at the start of the week, the Euro US Dollar (ERU/USD) exchange rate is moving lower on Wednesday. The pair settled +0.67%% higher on Tuesday at US$1.1742close to the session high. At 07:15 UTC, EUR/USD trades -0.1% at US$1.1728, towards the lower end of the daily traded range.
German retail sales jumped more than expected in August, boosting hopes that consumer spending in Europe’s largest economy could help power a solid recovery following the coronavirus hit. Retail sales soared +3.1% in August compared to the previous month, after declining -0.2% in July. Retail sales are notoriously volatile, and this has only been exaggerated since covid. However, the data is undeniably a step in the right direction.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde comment that low inflation posses a fundamental threat is unnerving investors. German inflation yesterday revealed another month of disinflation. Eurozone inflation is due for release tomorrow.
The US Dollar is edging higher across the board following the frenzied US Presidential election debate. The President and former vice president Joe Biden faced each other in a debate which almost saw more insults thrown than policy discussed. The debate would have done little to boost Trump’s ratings, who is marginally behind in the polls.
However growing concerns that Trump could refuse to accept the results of the election and comments that the results to the November 3rd election may not be known for months is unnerving investors, sparking a flight to safety, boosting the US Dollar.
Attention will now turn to US ADP payroll data later. Analysts are expecting 648,000 new jobs to have been added in the private sector in September, up from 428,000 in August. This is a closely watched data point because of its strong correlation to the US non-farm payroll due to be released on Friday.
