- Euro (EUR) jumps after German composite PMI beats estimates
- EZ Manufacturing & service sector PMI data
- US Dollar (USD) trades mixed
- US Manufacturing & service sector PMI data
The Euro US Dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate is advancing on Friday. The pair settled +0.4% at US$1.2166 on Thursday. At 06:15 UTC, EUR/USD trades +0.2% at US$1.2182 a fresh multi month high.
The Euro bounded higher in the previous session after the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged as expected. ECB President Christine Lagarde went on to only make very muted comments regarding the strength of the Euro, when investors were expecting more. Euro bulls took this as a sign to push the common currency higher.
Today attention is on manufacturing and service sector PMI data. German data was better than analysts forecasts. The composite PMI which is considered a good gauge for the health of the economy remained in expansion at 50.8, ahead of the 50.3 expected despite the ongoing lockdown.
In the Eurozone, the manufacturing sector is expected to continue showing resilience, remaining in expansionary territory despite tighter lockdown across the region.
The service sector is expected to sink deeper into contraction as it is impacted by the stay at home orders. Analysts forecast a decline in PMI in January to 45, down from 46.2. The level 50 separates expansion from contraction.
The US Dollar, whilst trading lower versus the Euro, was edging higher versus other major peers, but lower for the week.
The US Dollar has been caught in a tug of war over the past few weeks. On the one hand the prospect of huge fiscal stimulus from the Joe Bidden administration has boosted risk sentiment sapping demand for the safe haven US Dollar.
On the other hand, the prospect of greater borrowing and spending boosts the inflation outlook lifting treasury yields and the US Dollar.
Yesterday US jobless claims only fell very slightly from the week before printing at 900,000 versus the 965,000 the week before.
US manufacturing and service sector PMI data is in focus later.
