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- EUR/USD trades lower near 1.1370 despite stronger-than-expected German and Eurozone PMI data.
- US Services PMI jumped to 53.6, keeping the US Dollar supported, while Manufacturing PMI eased to 53.8.
- Attention turns to next week’s Fed meeting with rates expected to remain at 3.50%–3.75%.
EUR/USD trades lower near the 1.1370 area on Friday, struggling despite stronger-than-expected Eurozone business-activity figures. The US Dollar Index (DXY) remains firmer near 101.50, offering limited support to the pair.
Germany’s preliminary HCOB Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) climbed to 51.2 in July from 49.5, exceeding expectations of 49.8 and returning to expansion territory. Manufacturing PMI improved to 52.2 from 50.3, while Services PMI rose to 49.6 from 48.6 but remained below the 50.0 threshold separating expansion from contraction.
Activity across the wider Eurozone also strengthened. The Composite PMI increased to 51.9 from 50.0, beating the 50.3 forecast. Manufacturing PMI advanced to 52.0, while Services PMI rose sharply to 51.6 from 49.4, indicating that the services sector returned to expansion.
The United States (US) preliminary S&P Global Manufacturing PMI eased to 53.8 and missed expectations of 54.5, while the Services PMI surged to 53.6 from 51.2, significantly exceeding the 51.0 forecast. The strong services reading may keep US Treasury yields supported and prevent a deeper decline in the Greenback.
Risk sentiment also improved after reports that Pakistan and Iran are exploring a potential path toward renewed US-Iran negotiations under a China-backed diplomatic initiative. A possible reduction in regional tensions has contributed to a sharp decline in Oil prices and reduced some safe-haven demand for the US Dollar, although significant obstacles to negotiations remain.
Investors will now turn their attention to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) July 28–29 meeting. The Fed is expected to maintain its target range at 3.50%–3.75%. The meeting will not include new economic projections or an updated dot plot, leaving the policy statement and Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference as the main drivers for EUR/USD.
Short-term technical analysis:
On the 4-hour chart, EUR/USD trades at 1.1369 with a bearish near-term bias, holding beneath both the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.1397 and the 100-period SMA at 1.1422. The pair is also trading under nearby horizontal caps at 1.1387 and 1.1391, reinforcing a topside ceiling, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near 37, hinting at persistent downside pressure but not yet oversold conditions.
On the downside, immediate support is clustered just below the market at 1.1368 and 1.1366, where a break would open the door to an extension of the recent decline. On the topside, a recovery above the 1.1387–1.1391 band is needed to ease immediate pressure, with the 20-period SMA at 1.1397 then acting as the next barrier ahead of the 100-period SMA at 1.1422, whose clearance would be required to challenge the broader bearish structure.
