IForex Daily : June 30, 2014

 | Jun 30, 2015 06:16AM ET

The dollar continues to gain against most major currencies on Monday, after data showed that pending home sales in the U.S. rose to the highest level since 2006 in May, as worries related to the Greek debt crisis continue to affect market sentiment. The National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales index increased by 0.9% last month, compared to expectations for a gain of 1.2%.The euro found some support after SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan said Monday the bank had intervened "in order to stabilize the markets," which were thrown into turmoil after Greece announced an emergency bank shutdown. Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hinted on Monday he might resign if the Greek people vote in favour of the creditors' proposal. Meanwhile, Standard & Poor's lowered Greece's long-term credit rating to "CCC minus" from "CCC" and pegs the odds of a "Grexit" at 50%. Monday's drop in the stock markets picked up speed in the final hour of trading, a warning sign that investors can expect more turmoil from Greece's debt crisis. For today Germany is to release data on retail sales and the change in the number of people employed while euro zone is to release consumer inflation and a report on the unemployment rate. In the U.S. front data on consumer confidence are due later in the day.

EUR/USD

The euro posted a sharp recovery, approaching the 1.12 level once more after opening 1.4% lower yesterday as SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan said Monday the bank had intervened "in order to stabilize the markets and as President Obama and Angela Merkel urging for renewed efforts to find a solution. Ratings agency Standard and Poor's cut Greece's sovereign debt rating one notch further into junk levels to CCC-, saying there was a 50 percent probability it would leave the euro zone. All eyes are on whether the Greek government will default on its debt obligations. Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hinted on Monday he might resign if the Greek people vote in favour of the creditors' proposal. For today Germany is to release data on retail sales and the change in the number of people employed while euro zone is to release consumer inflation and a report on the unemployment rate. In the U.S. front data on consumer confidence are due later in the day.