3-Year Euro Uptrend — An Absurdity Amid a Weak Economy
CMCMARKETS:EURUSD
The euro is climbing, hitting its highest levels since late 2021 near $1.18. This surge is driven by diverging central bank policies—with the ECB holding rates steady while the Fed leans dovish—amid global tensions that push gold higher and rattle markets, weakening the dollar even though the eurozone economy remains fragile.
📉 1️⃣ Dollar Weakness Takes Center Stage
Since its January 2025 peak, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has fallen by over 11% 📉—one of its worst starts in decades, comparable to the slumps of 1986 and 1989. As inflation cools, markets are betting on Fed rate cuts, pulling U.S. Treasury yields lower. Coupled with monetary policy divergence and tariff drama, the dollar’s usual safe-haven appeal is fading, even amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
📊 2️⃣ Fed–ECB Policy Divergence
While the ECB has signaled the possibility of one or two cuts this year, markets are pricing in a milder path. By contrast, the Fed is tilting dovish, with swaps markets expecting a rate cut in September and another by December 🗓️. This widening yield differential supports EUR/USD, even though eurozone growth remains soft.
⚖️ 3️⃣ Trump Tariff Risks and Sentiment Shift
Uncertainty around U.S. trade policy—especially the threat of renewed tariffs—has weighed more heavily on USD sentiment than on eurozone currencies. Markets view these tariffs as inflationary and damaging to U.S. growth prospects. Speculative positioning data confirms record bearish sentiment on the dollar, with funds underweight USD for the first time in 20 years 💼.
💶 4️⃣ Eurozone’s Fiscal Shift
Germany has begun spending and borrowing, marking a dramatic pivot from years of fiscal restraint. This has raised hopes for an investment-driven recovery across the eurozone. Meanwhile, ECB President Christine Lagarde is avoiding signaling aggressive cuts, stabilizing market expectations and maintaining a sense of monetary calm—for now 🛡️.
🛡️ 5️⃣ Safe-Haven Flows Shifting
Traditionally, geopolitical stress boosts the USD as a safe haven. This cycle is different: investors are increasingly turning to gold, the Swiss franc, and the yen as defensive assets, indirectly supporting the euro. In April, when Trump delayed tariff plans, safe-haven USD flows unwound further, fueling euro gains 💰.
⚠️ Risks Ahead for EUR/USD:
💔 Weak Eurozone Fundamentals:
The eurozone economy is not booming. The IMF projects just 0.9% growth for 2025, with Germany, France, and Italy struggling to regain momentum. The ECB’s Financial Stability Review flags worsening credit conditions, weak private investment, and deteriorating balance sheets, none of which support sustained euro appreciation 📉.
🚢 A Strong Euro Hurts Exports:
Eurozone exporters in machinery, chemicals, and autos are already facing squeezed margins from rising input costs and global protectionism. A stronger euro makes exports less competitive, shrinking the eurozone’s current account surplus, which dropped sharply from €50.9 billion in March to €19.8 billion in April, according to the ECB 📊.
⚡ Political Risks Looming:
Fragile coalitions in Germany, budget battles in France, and rising anti-EU sentiment in Italy and the Netherlands could swiftly unwind euro gains if tensions escalate. Should the ECB turn dovish to support a weakening labor market, the euro’s rally could reverse quickly 🗳️.
📈 7️⃣ Technical Picture: Overextension Warning
In addition to the macro drivers, EUR/USD is now technically overextended. The pair has already retraced exactly 78.6% of its major bearish trend that started in January 2021 and ended in September of that year. Ahead lies a strong resistance zone at 1.18000–1.20000, which will be difficult to break without a significant catalyst.
Notably, the daily chart shows bearish RSI divergence, indicating fading momentum beneath the surface of this rally. A pullback toward the 1.13000 level would not be surprising, even as near-term momentum remains strong. This technical setup calls for caution while the pair tests these critical levels.
📈 Technical Outlook: EUR/USD Showing Signs of Overextension
Beyond macroeconomic factors, EUR/USD is currently technically overextended. The pair has retraced exactly 78.6% of its major bearish trend that began in January 2021 and concluded in September the same year. It is now approaching the upper boundary of a 3-year ascending channel, facing a significant resistance zone between 1.18000 and 1.20000—a hurdle unlikely to be crossed without a strong catalyst.
Additionally, the weekly chart reveals a bearish RSI divergence, signaling that underlying momentum is weakening despite the recent rally. Given this, a pullback toward the 1.13000 level is plausible, even as short-term momentum remains robust. This technical setup advises caution as the pair navigates these critical resistance levels.
