EUR/USD HOLDS ABOVE 1.1550 AS EUROZONE GDP AND TRADE DATA SUPPORT THE EURO
EUR/USD traded near 1.1555 on Friday, up around 0.22%, after recovering from Thursday’s lows near 1.1500. Eurozone economic data came broadly in line with growth expectations, while the June Trade Balance exceeded market forecasts.
Eurostat confirmed that the Eurozone economy expanded 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in Q2, following a flat performance in the first quarter. On an annual basis, GDP increased 1.0%, compared with 0.5% year-on-year growth in the previous quarter.
Employment also remained stable, increasing 0.1% quarter-on-quarter and 0.5% year-on-year in the second quarter, in line with previous estimates.
The Eurozone’s June Trade Balance recorded an €8.6 billion surplus, compared with a €9.0 billion deficit in May and substantially above the market forecast for a €2.2 billion deficit. This represented one of the more notable data surprises in the supplied reports.
The US Dollar remained softer after recent US inflation data reduced expectations of an immediate Federal Reserve rate increase. Market attention now turns to US Retail Sales, which are expected in the supplied commentary to rise 0.1% in July after a 0.2% increase in June.
ING strategists described the upcoming US releases as relatively secondary and noted that a significant data surprise may be required to generate a more substantial Dollar reaction. This represents an institutional assessment rather than a confirmed market outcome.
For EUR/USD, the 1.1550 area remains an important near-term price reference, while the recent 1.1500 area provides another relevant level from the supplied market commentary. Participants will continue to monitor Eurozone economic momentum, US data and Federal Reserve expectations for their potential influence on the pair.
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