EZ CPI Miss Prompts ECB Easing Expectations

 | Jan 05, 2016 07:25AM ET

New York Forex Report: The plunge in China equities not only triggered a trading halt but also prompted broad-based sell-offs in major equities globally. This, coupled with rising geopolitical tension in the Middle-east, resulted in a bout of risk-off sentiments as the new year begins. Weaker than expected manufacturing prints from the US and UK further dampened the already fragile growth outlook. In spite of weakness on the data front, two Fed officials reiterated that US fundamentals remained sound and temporary volatility in the financial markets does not post significant risk to the economy. These Hawkish comments prompted USD buying which has continued over the early European session so far today whilst Equity markets remain weak in the wake of the risk-off tone with which the New Year has started.

EUR/USD
Outlook: Short Term (1-3 Days): Bearish – Medium Term (1-3 Weeks): Bearish

Fundamental: EUR extended losses over early European trading today as yet further data weakness in the Eurozone spurred heavy selling. EZ Dec CPI printed below expectations in both headline and core inflation, mirroring weak German inflation data yesterday. Data weakness is prompting expectations for further ECB easing.

Technical: While offers at and just above 1.0950 contain upside attempts, expect rotation south to test bids at corrective symmetry objective at 1.0730, expect buyers to emerge 1.0750/30 on the initial test

Interbank Flows: Bids 1.0750 stops below. Offers 1.0950 Stops above.
Retail Sentiment: Bearish
Trading Take-away: Sidelines