Investing.com – The euro surged to a five-month high against the U.S. dollar on Friday, as dovish comments from a senior Federal Reserve official and expectations for an interest rate hike by the European Central Bank next week supported the single currency.
EUR/USD hit 1.4019 on Monday, the weekly low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.4232 by close of trade on Friday, gaining 1.34% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 1.4019, Monday’s low and short-term resistance at 1.4281, the high of November 4 and a 10-month high.
The euro strengthened against the greenback after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said he saw no reason to adjust the central bank's loose monetary policy despite encouraging U.S. jobs data.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Labor said that payrolls rose by 216,000 in March after a 194,000 gain the prior month, outstripping expectations for a 188,000 increase. The unemployment rate unexpectedly slid to a two-year low of 8.8%, from 8.9% in February, the Labor Department said.
The dovish comments contrasted with the more hawkish recent tone of the European Central Bank, which is widely expected to raise rates next week; the first of what some analysts predict will be several rate increases during the year.
The rate hike expectations meant that the single currency remained largely unaffected following a bank stress test which indicated that Irish banks will need another EUR24 billion to cover potential losses and a downgrade of Portugal's government debt to near-junk status.
Next week, the main focus will be on the ECB’s interest rate announcement on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, April 4
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at a public engagement; his comments will be closely watched for clues to the future possible direction of monetary policy.
Also Monday, the euro zone is to publish official data on producer price inflation as well as a report on investor confidence in the single currency bloc.
Tuesday, April 5
The euro zone is to publish official data on retail sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of the most recent policy setting meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The minutes contain in-depth insights into the economic and financial conditions that influenced their vote on where to set interest rates. Meanwhile, the U.S. Institute of Supply Management is to publish a report on service sector growth, a leading indicator of economic health.
Wednesday, April 6
In the euro zone, Germany is to publish official data on factory orders a leading indicator of production. The single currency bloc is also to publish revised quarterly data on gross domestic product.
Thursday, April 7
In the euro zone, Germany is to publish official data on industrial production, a leading indicator of economic health, while France is to produce data on its trade balance. In addition, the ECB is to announce its minimum bid rate. The announcement will be followed by a closely watched press conference.
Also Thursday, the U.S. is to publish a key weekly report on initial jobless claims, the nation’s earliest employment data as well as data on consumer credit and natural gas inventories.
Friday, April 8
In the euro zone, Germany is to produce a government report on its trade balance, while France is to release data on its government budget balance. In addition, the European Union economic summit is to begin in Brussels.
Finally, the U.S. is to round up the week with a report on wholesale inventories, an important indicator of future business spending.
EUR/USD hit 1.4019 on Monday, the weekly low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.4232 by close of trade on Friday, gaining 1.34% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 1.4019, Monday’s low and short-term resistance at 1.4281, the high of November 4 and a 10-month high.
The euro strengthened against the greenback after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said he saw no reason to adjust the central bank's loose monetary policy despite encouraging U.S. jobs data.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Labor said that payrolls rose by 216,000 in March after a 194,000 gain the prior month, outstripping expectations for a 188,000 increase. The unemployment rate unexpectedly slid to a two-year low of 8.8%, from 8.9% in February, the Labor Department said.
The dovish comments contrasted with the more hawkish recent tone of the European Central Bank, which is widely expected to raise rates next week; the first of what some analysts predict will be several rate increases during the year.
The rate hike expectations meant that the single currency remained largely unaffected following a bank stress test which indicated that Irish banks will need another EUR24 billion to cover potential losses and a downgrade of Portugal's government debt to near-junk status.
Next week, the main focus will be on the ECB’s interest rate announcement on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, April 4
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at a public engagement; his comments will be closely watched for clues to the future possible direction of monetary policy.
Also Monday, the euro zone is to publish official data on producer price inflation as well as a report on investor confidence in the single currency bloc.
Tuesday, April 5
The euro zone is to publish official data on retail sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of the most recent policy setting meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The minutes contain in-depth insights into the economic and financial conditions that influenced their vote on where to set interest rates. Meanwhile, the U.S. Institute of Supply Management is to publish a report on service sector growth, a leading indicator of economic health.
Wednesday, April 6
In the euro zone, Germany is to publish official data on factory orders a leading indicator of production. The single currency bloc is also to publish revised quarterly data on gross domestic product.
Thursday, April 7
In the euro zone, Germany is to publish official data on industrial production, a leading indicator of economic health, while France is to produce data on its trade balance. In addition, the ECB is to announce its minimum bid rate. The announcement will be followed by a closely watched press conference.
Also Thursday, the U.S. is to publish a key weekly report on initial jobless claims, the nation’s earliest employment data as well as data on consumer credit and natural gas inventories.
Friday, April 8
In the euro zone, Germany is to produce a government report on its trade balance, while France is to release data on its government budget balance. In addition, the European Union economic summit is to begin in Brussels.
Finally, the U.S. is to round up the week with a report on wholesale inventories, an important indicator of future business spending.