iFOREX Daily Analysis : September 29, 2015

 | Sep 29, 2015 03:56AM ET

The dollar erased gains against the other major currencies on Monday, after data showed that U.S. pending home sales dropped unexpectedly last month, although comments by Federal Reserve official William Dudley added to expectations for a near-term U.S. rate hike.

The U.S. National Association of Realtors said that pending home sales dropped 1.4% in August, confounding expectations for a 0.4% uptick after a 0.5% rise the previous month. Earlier on Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal spending rose 0.4% in August, beating expectations for an increase of 0.3%. The report also showed that personal income increased by 0.3% last month, compared to expectations for a 0.4% gain. Meanwhile, New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley said the Fed remains on track for a rate hike this year and could move as soon as the upcoming meeting in October.

Today in the euro zone Germany and Spain are to release preliminary data on consumer price inflation, while the U.K. is to report on net private lending. Later on Canada is to publish data on raw material price inflation, the U.S. is to report on the trade balance and consumer sentiment, and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney is due to speak at an event in London.

But more than everything else investors await the release of September inflation data in the euro zone on Wednesday and the non-farm payrolls data on Friday, for further indications on the strength of the global economy.

EUR/USD

The euro rose sharply on Monday, as a sell-off among commodities and U.S. equities weighed heavily on the dollar.
Following a four-day losing streak last week, the euro has now closed higher against the dollar in four of the last five sessions.

Investors now await the release of September inflation data in the euro zone on Wednesday, for further indications on the strength of the global economy. Analysts expect to see a 0.1% gain for the month, following a 0.1% increase in August.