Daily Market Analysis from ForexMart

GBP/USD. May 12, 2020 – Sterling shows growth despite many negative factors

The GBP/USD pair began the day with growth to the area of ​​1.2370. The British currency is growing, despite the deteriorating market sentiment and weak English statistics. Growing demand for defensive assets amid news of repeated outbreaks of coronavirus in Asia could put pressure on the British pound and support the US dollar.

An additional negative for sterling are disappointing forecasts regarding the dynamics of the English economy. The Bank of England said that by the end of 2020, the UK economy is expected to decline by 14%, which could be the worst indicator in almost 300 years.

Tomorrow you should pay attention to the data on the country's GDP for March. The economy is expected to decline by 7%. If the forecast is confirmed, the pressure on the pound will intensify, and the pair GBP/USD will return to the area of ​​1.2200.

Another driver of decline is the political uncertainty in the region. By the end of the year, the country's authorities have to agree with the EU on Brexit issues. Thus, in the current environment, the pound is unlikely to have enough strength to grow.

EUR/USD. May 13, 2020 – Euro has come under pressure from industrial production data

The euro failed to overcome the level of 1.0880 yesterday and made a decline to the level of 1.0830. Today, data on the volume of industrial production in annual terms were published in the eurozone. The rate of decline increased from -2.2% to -12.9%, which put pressure on the euro. During the day, the EUR/USD pair will continue to decline to 1.08.

Yesterday, the US provided April inflation data, according to which the consumer price index fell to 0.3%. The last time such low inflation was recorded in October 2015.

Today, attention should be paid to the speech of the head of the US Federal Reserve. It is expected that the head of the regulator will indicate the need to continue the program of quantitative easing and expand the balance of the Fed. In March, BlackRock, through which the bulk of FOMC operations go, announced that the Fed's balance sheet could be expanded to $9 trillion. Today, this figure is $6.72 trillion.

The expansion of the balance traditionally leads to a weakening dollar, since an increase in the money supply leads to a depreciation of the national currency.

EUR/USD. May 14, 2020 – Euro declines after J. Powell speech

On Thursday, the euro declines, continuing the dynamics of yesterday. The current quotation of the EUR/USD pair is 1.0775. Pressure was exerted by the speech of the head of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell. He noted that economic forecasts for the US are «extremely uncertain and subject to significant negative risks.» At the same time, the possibility of negative interest rates is not yet considered by the regulator.

Market participants reacted to Powell's performance with sales of risky assets.

Also, the tense situation between the US and China remains the focus of markets. The United States continues to accuse the PRC of spreading the coronavirus, while Beijing, in turn, is considering the possibility of retaliatory steps (in the case of the imposition of sanctions by America).

Today, attention should be paid to data on changes in the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits in the United States. Experts predict a decline to 2.500K.

EUR/USD. May 15, 2020 – Euro is stable at 1.08

The pair EUR/USD remains stable near the level of 1.08 at the end of the week, being influenced by multidirectional factors. On the one hand, American statistics are mixed, which puts pressure on the dollar. And on the other hand, the indicators of Europe are also not encouraging, and the region remains in quarantine.

Today it is worth paying attention to a whole block of interesting macroeconomic statistics. The eurozone presented its second estimate of GDP for the first quarter: the economy contracted at 3.8%. In annual terms, the region’s GDP decreased by 3.2%.

In the evening, the US will publish retail sales data for April – analysts expect a strong drop in the indicator (by 12.0% on a monthly basis). In March, the indicator fell by 8.7% m/m. The volume of industrial production in April will also arouse the interest of traders: the indicator may decline by 11.3 m/m.

Pending this data, the pair will continue to fluctuate near the level of 1.08.

EUR/USD. May 25, 2020 – Euro remains under pressure at the beginning of the week

The euro continues to weaken at the beginning of the new week. The current quotation of the EUR/USD pair is 1.0900, however, at the start of trading, the euro was located at 1.0860. The dollar is now being supported by its «safe haven» status amid the uncertainty surrounding China’s new national security bill.

Investors fear that a law prohibiting terrorist and separatist activities will complicate the observance of the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, which once already led to a wave of protests. At the same time, the United States may intervene in this matter, which will further aggravate relations between the two largest economies in the world and provoke an escape from risky assets.

Today in the US is a day off in honor of the celebration of National Memorial Day. The macroeconomic calendar is almost empty, you should pay attention only to data on German GDP for the I quarter. Statistics confirmed a 2.2% decline in the economy, which was the largest decline since the first quarter of 2009. In annual terms, the decline in GDP amounted to 2.3%. All results coincided with analysts' forecasts.

EUR/USD. May 26, 2020 – Euro rose sharply to 1.0970

On Tuesday, the euro started to rise sharply, reaching 1.0970. Support for the currency was provided by the statistics on the consumer climate index GfK in Germany in June: the figure recovered to -18.9 points after falling to -23.4 in May. The improvement of the index gave a signal about the consumer’s readiness to quit quarantine completely, which is not bad both for the German economy and for the economy of the entire eurozone.

In the afternoon, attention should be paid to the publication of the ECB's report on financial stability, but it is unlikely to bring any surprises, since all relevant information is constantly coming from the eurozone finance ministers in the process of agreeing on a stabilization fund of 500-600 billion euros.

In the evening hours data on sales of new homes in the United States in April will be published. Experts predict a sharp decline to 492 thousand against the March figure of 627 thousand. In addition, the May value of the Conference Board consumer confidence index, which could recover to 87.1 after the April decline to 86.9, will be of interest.

EUR/USD. May 27, 2020 – Euro updated two-month high

The euro has shown a sharp jump in prices to the level of 1.1030 amid a recovery in global economic activity due to the lifting of restrictions in many countries. Expectations that the economy will return to pre-crisis levels support risky assets.

At the same time, market participants are monitoring the situation around tensions between the United States and China. Also, pressure on the euro may increase if many EU countries oppose the creation of a fund of 500 billion euros. As it’s known, Germany and France have already agreed on the creation of a fund, but not all EU heads of state share their views.

Yesterday, statistics on new home sales in the United States were published – the indicator unexpectedly increased from 619 thousand in March to 623 thousand in April. Analysts predicted a serious drop in sales. Moreover, the Conference Board consumer confidence index for May rose to 86.6 points from 85.7 earlier. These data provided the dollar with short-term support, but today the growth of the European currency will continue. The main goal of the «bulls» is the level of 1.1050.

EUR/USD. May 28, 2020 – The pair is consolidating at 1.10

Yesterday, the euro showed significant appreciation, reaching the level of 1.1035. The European currency was supported by news that the European Commission was ready to agree on an additional package of assistance to the region’s economy in the amount of 750 billion euros. However, the optimism of market participants did not last long – the euro quotes began to decline after the speech of the ECB chairman Christine Lagarde.

The head of the regulator said that the eurozone economy could lose 8-12% on the negative consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The «soft» scenario for the development of the region’s economy for 2020, which implies a 5% decline in GDP, has already become irrelevant. Thus, the pair fell to the level of 1.10.

Today is full of interesting statistics from the USA. The States will provide a preliminary estimate of GDP for the first quarter. The economic slowdown is expected to be 4.8%. Additional pressure on the US dollar today may have data on orders for durable goods: their volume should decrease by another 19.0%. Repeated applications for unemployment benefits can also set a new record - their growth is expected to reach 26.180. Thus, Thursday may turn out to be a black day for the US currency, which will allow EUR/USD quotes to return to the area above 1.10.

EUR/USD. May 29, 2020 – Euro continues its rally

The euro continues its rally, approaching the level of 1.1150. Support for the currency is provided by increased demand for risky assets, the general weakness of the US dollar in the Forex market and the expectation of the creation of the Fund in the amount of 750 billion euros to restore the European economy.

The US dollar came under pressure after the release of weak statistics. The economy in the first quarter of 2020 decreased by 5% in annual terms. The forecast assumed a decrease of 4.8%. Data on orders for durable goods also turned out to be far from optimistic. Today, attention should be paid to the April personal income and expenses report and the statement by J. Powell, during which the head of the Fed may hint at the regulator's further plans to support the US economy.

Eurostat today published data on inflation in the EU: consumer prices in the eurozone in May 2020 increased by 0.1% in annual terms, which provided additional support for the euro. During the day, the EUR/USD pair will continue to grow above the level of 1.1150.

GBP/USD. June 01, 2020 – Sterling grows steadily to an area above 1.24

The British sterling continues to show an upward trend, reaching a level of 1.24. The currency is supported by the general weakening of the US dollar after statistics released on Friday and D. Trump's speech at a press conference.

In particular, the Chicago PMI index in May fell from 35.4 to 32.3 points. The University of Michigan consumer confidence index fell from 73.7 to 72.3 points over the same period. Even more market participants were disappointed with the report on personal expenses in the USA: according to published data, personal expenses in the USA decreased by 13.6% against the forecast of a decrease of 12.6%.

Donald Trump during his speech said that he was stopping WHO funding, and also again accused China of hiding information about the dangers of coronavirus.

Today, Britain presented a report on business activity in the manufacturing sector for May. The index recovered to 40.7 points from multi-year lows in April, which provided additional support to sterling. This week, you should pay attention to the report on activity in the services sector in England, which will be released on Wednesday. If statistics disappoint markets, the Bank of England is likely to cut rates or expand the QE program at a meeting in June.