Daily Market Analysis from ForexMart

EUR/USD. March 10, 2020 – Euro fell from highs to 1.1325

The growth of the European currency was stopped by the level of 1.15 – EUR/USD quotes fell on Tuesday to around 1.1325. Yesterday, a drop in the oil market to $32 per barrel triggered a collapse of major indices around the world. In addition, the continued spread of coronavirus outside of China also continues to put pressure on world markets.

It became known that Italy introduced a regime of emergency measures to combat the virus throughout the country, and the head of WHO said that the outbreak of the virus is already very close to becoming a pandemic. The presence and further spread of coronavirus in Europe puts pressure on the euro.

The US dollar, in turn, is under the negative impact of rising yields on 10-year US Treasury bonds and expectations of a Fed rate cut immediately by 70 bp. on the meeting of the American regulator on March 18.
During the day, the EUR/USD pair will continue to grow from the level of 1.1325.

EUR/USD. March 11, 2020 – The pair near 1.13 in anticipation of US inflation data

The US stock market is gradually recovering after the collapse on Monday, and investor sentiment on global markets remains relatively optimistic. The current quotation of the EUR/USD pair is 1.1300. The dollar received some support after U.S. President Donald Trump discussed payroll tax cuts with Republican officials as part of tax breaks.

However, the further spread of coronavirus outside of China still retains the risks of further sales in the financial markets. The number of cases worldwide continues to increase. In the USA, in particular, the number of cases has already exceeded 1000 people.

Today, attention should be paid to inflation data in the United States, which may reflect its deceleration from 2.5% to 2.2%. Amid the expectation of another Fed rate cut at the March meeting, this slowdown could trigger a wave of sales of the US dollar.

EUR/USD. March 12, 2020 – Euro weakens awaiting ECB meeting

Negative sentiment caused by a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) has returned to global markets. Yesterday, WHO officially assigned pandemic status to the spread of the virus Covid-19, which put strong pressure on the entire block of risky assets. Additional pressure on the markets had a 30-day US ban on entry to the country for all travelers from Europe.

The pair EUR/USD is trading at 1.1250. The euro is moderately declining, under pressure from the words of the ECB head K. Lagarde. The politician said that in the absence of coordinated actions by the authorities, the situation in the EU economy could develop according to the 2008 crisis scenario.

Today, attention should be paid to the ECB meeting. Market participants expect the regulator to introduce a range of monetary incentives, and the scale of measures taken is of particular interest.

At the same time, the US dollar received support after the release of inflation data in the country. Annual inflation in February slowed to 2.3%, better than forecasted.

Fundamental Brent analysis for March 13, 202

Yesterday, Brent quotes fell again to the level of $32.50 per barrel amid panic sales in global markets. However, today prices are already showing a recovery to $35.40 per barrel.

Support for Brent and other risky assets was provided by the US Federal Reserve reports on a massive infusion of dollar liquidity into the system in the near future.

However, one should not expect a significant strengthening of «black gold», since the situation with the spread of coronavirus in the world remains very dangerous, and OPEC oil-producing countries continue the price war in attempts to increase their market share.

EUR/USD. March 16, 2020 – Dollar weakens after Fed’s decision to cut rate again

The US dollar came under strong pressure after an emergency cut in the US Fed rate on Sunday. The regulator reduced the rate immediately by 100 bp. to 0-0.25% for the first time since 1982, and also announced the launch of a large-scale program for the purchase of financial assets with a total volume of $700 billion. As a result, the EUR/USD pair rose to the level of 1.1230.

The situation with the further development of the coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on all global markets. More and more countries restrict the movement of people, close their borders and introduce other quarantine measures. In the United States, a state of emergency was declared on Friday.

The set of preventive measures of the US government signals the increased risks of a recession in the US economy, which forms a negative background for all risky assets. During the day, the pair will fluctuate near the level of 1.12.

EUR/USD. March 17, 2020 – Euro collapsed after the release of ZEW data from Germany

Today, the US dollar began to rise, reaching 1.1000. The currency received the main support from expectations that the world central banks will follow the example of the US Federal Reserve and also lower interest rates in their countries in the nearest future.

The spread of coronavirus around the world has led investors to flee to safe harbors, in particular – to the US dollar. This trend of strengthening the American currency was interrupted on Sunday, when the US Federal Reserve decided to urgently reduce the rate to 0-0.25%. However, already on Tuesday the general background changed, and the upward trend in the dollar returned to the markets.

Today, you should pay attention to the publication of the March index of economic expectations and sentiment from ZEW in Germany. The indicator crashed from a level of 8.7 points to -49.5. Such a strong decline put significant pressure on the euro, becoming the sharpest decline since December 1991.

EUR/USD. March 18, 2020 – Euro fluctuates below 1.10

The euro continues the downward trend, having broken down the level of 1.10. The US dollar remains strong amid increased demand for dollar liquidity amid rising investor concerns about an impending recession in the global economy.

In addition, the greenback was supported by plans of the US presidential administration to introduce a full package of measures to support the economy, including making payments of $1,000 to all residents (to stimulate domestic demand).

At the same time, pressure on the euro continues to be provided by incredibly weak data on economic conditions and sentiments from ZEW in Germany. The first indicator fell in March to -43.1 points against the forecast of -30 points. The economic sentiment index fell to -49.5 points, although experts expected a decline to -26.4. The economic sentiment index in all countries of the eurozone amounted to -49.5 points against 10.4 a month earlier.

During the day, the EUR/USD pair will continue to fluctuate below the strong support level of 1.10.

AUD/USD. March 19, 2020 – Australian dollar continues downtrend

Today, the Australian dollar fell to the level of 0.55 paired with the dollar, but managed to recover to 0.58. The pair AUD/USD fell even before the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lowered interest rates to 0.25%, which was a record low.

The head of the regulator, Philip Lowe, said that the bank’s board of directors will not increase the target rate until full employment and inflation target of 2-3% are achieved.

According to current data, in February the unemployment rate in Australia unexpectedly fell from 5.3% to 5.1%. Analysts had expected the rate to remain unchanged. Employment in the country increased by 26.7 thousand people in February, while estimates of specialists suggested an increase of only 6.3 thousand. Thus, the unemployment rate fell by 66%.

During the day, the pair will fluctuate near the level of 0.58.

EUR/USD. March 20, 2020 – Euro continues to weaken: 1.0650 and this is not the limit

The euro continues to update lows paired with the dollar. The EUR/USD quotes fell to the level of 1.0650, from where the euro made a corrective rebound to the level of 1.0755. The US dollar has been in high demand in recent days as investors flee into defensive assets amid the spread of panic in the markets due to the coronavirus.

A growing number of world central banks are softening their monetary policies: in particular, the Fed has already lowered the rate, the Bank of England, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Central Bank of Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil and Taiwan. Moreover, it became known that the US Federal Reserve, together with the central banks of Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Australia and other countries, launched swap lines to provide dollar liquidity directly to central banks for at least 6 months.

Will these measures be enough to reduce the level of panic on world markets, time will tell. And today you should pay attention to the release of data on changes in home sales in the secondary market in the United States, the balance of payments of the ECB in January and the report from Baker Hughes on the number of active oil drilling rigs.

Fundamental Brent analysis for March 24, 2020

On Monday, a barrel of Brent crude was trading in a narrow price range at around 27.00, in the region of lows over the past 17 years.

Today, oil quotes are gradually recovering mainly due to the weakening US dollar. As of 13:00 Moscow time, Brent crude rose by 5.33%, to $ 28.47 per barrel.

The American currency is becoming cheaper due to the decisive actions of the US Federal Reserve. Regulatory officials announced an unlimited program of quantitative easing, let us know that they will buy as many assets as needed. The previously announced QE volume was equal to $ 700 billion. At the same time, in the medium term there are no factors that would allow oil to restore its lost positions.