EUR/USD unplugs bullish attempt, slips back below 1.05

• EUR/USD shed a fresh fifth of a percent against the Greenback on Tuesday.
• Fed-centric US data docket dominates investor sentiment.
• EU data remains light this week, traders focus on upcoming Fed rate call.

Bullish momentum behind the Euro evaporated on Tuesday, dragging the pair back beneath the 1.0500 handle as traders buckle down for the wait to the Federal Reserve's (Fed) last rate call of 2024. European data is relatively sparse this week, compelling Fiber traders to navigate a substantial array of US data.

Euro markets largely overlooked multiple European Central Bank (ECB) officials' appearances earlier in the week, and despite European December PMI figures surpassing expectations. Pan-EU Services PMI survey figures still remain in contraction due to concerns over a deepening economic slowdown in Europe, which continues to unsettle investors and businesses.

US Retail Sales figures lurched higher to 0.7% MoM, stoking some mild concern among investors that maybe the Fed doesn't need to pursue an aggressive rate-cutting strategy after all, especially when counting a recent uptick in inflation metrics. Despite this, markets are still broadly pricing in a third straight rate cut from the Fed on Wednesday, with 95% odds favoring a 25 bps rate trim according to the CME's FedWatch Tool.

EUR/USD price forecast

The EUR/USD daily chart reveals a period of consolidation just above the 1.0450 level after the pair's steep decline from its late October highs near 1.1000. This recent stabilization coincides with investor expectations surrounding the Federal Reserve's anticipated quarter-point rate cut on Wednesday, which has injected a degree of uncertainty into the greenback's trajectory. The price action remains capped by the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 1.0658, with the longer-term bearish bias underscored by the 200-day EMA at 1.0809, sloping downward. A break below the key support at 1.0450 could see bears retesting the psychological 1.0400 level, which served as a critical floor in late November.

The MACD indicator at the bottom of the chart shows bearish momentum has eased slightly, as the MACD line flattens and approaches a bullish crossover with the signal line. However, the histogram remains in negative territory, suggesting that upside attempts may still face significant headwinds. A Fed rate cut on Wednesday, if accompanied by a dovish tone, could weaken the dollar further, paving the way for a rebound toward 1.0600 and potentially the 50-day EMA resistance. Conversely, a hawkish surprise may reinforce the dollar's strength, triggering renewed selling pressure on the EUR/USD pair and opening the door for a retest of yearly lows. Traders are likely to remain cautious ahead of the Fed decision, keeping price action in a tight range in the short term.

EUR/USD daily chart