Euro May Rise as ECB Stimulus Bets Recede, US Dollar at Risk

The Euro may rise as German CPI data and an EU policy shift away from austerity limit scope for ECB stimulus. The US Dollar may fall on dovish Fed-speak.

Talking Points

Euro May Rise on German CPI, EU Economic Policy Recommendations Set
US Dollar at Risk if Fed’s Rosengren Pours Cold Water on QE3 Reduction Bets

Currency markets face a busy calendar of fundamental event risk in European trading hours. The preliminary set of May’s German CPI data is set to show the year-on-year inflation rate rose to 1.3 percent, marking the first increase in five months. This may foreshadow a pickup in the region-wide price growth print due later in the week, which could prove supportive for the Euro as traders downgrade expectations for a near-term expansion of ECB easing efforts.

Meanwhile, the European Commission will release its annual set of economic policy recommendations for all EU member states, which ought to reorient officials’ efforts away from budget consolidation and toward battling recession. A more supportive posture from the fiscal side of the policy spectrum ought to reduce the burden on monetary authorities to do more to promote recovery. This too may be seen as reducing scope for ECB accommodation and encourage the single currency higher.

Germany’s Unemployment report rounds out the docket and is forecast to show the economy shed 5,000 jobs in May. A print in line with the consensus will fall broadly in step with the 12-month trend average and should thereby offer traders little in terms of paradigm-changing information. That means that absent a major deviation from expectations, the figures’ singular impact on price action should be limited.

Later in the day, the spotlight will turn to a speech from the Federal Reserve’s Eric Rosengren, who is scheduled to discuss the outlook for the US economy and take questions. Mr. Rosengren is a voting member of the rate-setting FOMC committee this year and traders will no doubt be keen to get his take on the probability of a cut-back in Fed asset purchases over the near term. Given the Boston Fed President’s dovish credentials, there seems to be distinct possibility that his comments may pour cold water on calls QE3 reduction bets and weigh on the US Dollar.

Capitalize on Shifts in Market Mood with the DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index

Asia Session:

GMT

CCY

EVENT

ACT

EXP

23:50

JPY

Large Retailers’ Sales (YoY) (APR)

-2.3%

-1.0%

2.5%

23:50

JPY

Retail Trade s.a. (MoM) (APR)

0.7%

0.2%

-1.5%

23:50

JPY

Retail Trade (YoY) (APR)

-0.1%

-0.4%

-0.3%

0:00

JPY

BOJ Governor Kuroda Speaks at Conference

–

0:30

AUD

Westpac Leading Index (MoM) (MAR)

0.2%

–

0.6%

1:00

AUD

HIA New Home Sales (MoM) (APR)

3.9%

–

4.2%

1:30

AUD

Construction Work Done (QoQ) (1Q)

-2.0%

1.0%

0.1%

Euro Session:

GMT

CCY

EVENT

EXP/ACT

IMPACT

6:00

CHF

UBS Consumption Indicator (APR)

1.46 (A)

1.24

Low

7:00

JPY

BOJ Meets with Investors, Mrkt Participants

–

Low

7:55

EUR

German Unemployment Change (MAY)

High