Select Language

EUR/USD advances further on US credit downgrade, concerns over Trump's tax bill

Breaking news

EUR/USD advances further on US credit downgrade, concerns over Trump's tax bill

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
New update 2025.05.21 19:34
EUR/USD advances further on US credit downgrade, concerns over Trump's tax bill

update 2025.05.21 19:34

  • EUR/USD rises further to near 1.1350 as the US Dollar remains under pressure due to Moody's downgrade to the US credit rating.
  • US President Trump fails to convince lawmakers to back tax-cut bill.
  • The Euro gains as Trump confirms Russia-Ukraine truce talks.

EUR/USD jumps to near 1.1350 on Wednesday, extending its winning streak for the third trading day. The major currency pair strengthens as the US Dollar (USD) continues to face a sharp selling pressure amid the United States (US) credit rating erosion. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback's value against six major currencies, recoups some of its early losses, but is still 0.3% down to near 99.70.

Moody's downgraded the US Sovereign Credit Rating to Aaa from Aa1 on Friday in the wake of fiscal imbalances and mounting interest rate obligations, a move that added concerns over the US Dollar's credibility. The credit rating agency also showed solicitude over a likely increase in the current debt pile of $36 trillion, with US President Donald Trump aiming to pass a new tax bill of $3 trillion-$5 trillion.

Meanwhile, US President Trump failed to convince Republican lawmakers in a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to back the new tax bill through which he aims to fulfill his economic agenda. Republicans disagreed to support the tax-cut bill as they dissented the "increase in limits on deductions for state and local tax payments", Republican Representative Mike Lawler said, Reuters reported.

On the economic front, investors await the preliminary S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data for May, which will be released on Thursday. The PMI data is expected to show that the overall business activity expanded at a steady pace. Investors will pay close attention to comments from employers in the private sector about whether they are opting for capacity expansion or are comfortable with costly imports due to the fallout of the tariff policy by the White House.

Federal Reserve (Fed) officials have indicated that the imposition of new economic policies by US President Trump is expected to de-anchor inflation, a scenario that discourages the central bank from bringing interest rates down. On Tuesday, St. Louis Fed Bank President Alberto Musalem said, "If inflation expectations become de-anchored, the Fed policy should prioritize price stability". Musalem guided that the monetary policy is currently "well-positioned" as the economic policy uncertainty is "unusually high".

Daily digest market movers: EUR/USD gains as Euro outperforms

  • Sheer strength in the EUR/USD pair is also driven by the Euro's (EUR) outperformance. The major currency performs strongly against all its major peers on Wednesday as investors become hopeful of a truce between Russia and Ukraine. US President Trump confirmed Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks in the Vatican City through a post on Truth.Social. "Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire," Trump said.
  • A ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will be a favorable scenario for the Euro (EUR) as it will ease supply chain disruptions across Europe. 
  • On the monetary policy front, traders remain increasingly confident that the European Central Bank (ECB) will reduce interest rates in the June policy meeting. The reason behind firm ECB dovish bets is guidance from a slew of officials that inflation is on track to return to the central bank's target of 2%.
  • However, ECB Governing Council member Klaas Knot said on Tuesday that the medium-term inflation outlook is too uncertain to say whether the ECB needs to cut key rates again in June. "I can't exclude we will decide to have another rate cut in June, but I also can't confirm it," Knot said, according to Reuters.
  • This week, the Spring Forecast report from the European Union's (EU) executive arm also showed that inflation will return to the 2% target by the middle of the year. The report also showed that price pressures will average at 1.7% in 2026, a scenario that reflects downside risks to inflation.
  • On the economic front, investors await the HCOB PMI data for the Eurozone and its major states, which will be released on Thursday. According to the preliminary estimates, the overall business activity is expected to have grown at a faster pace than what was seen in April.

Technical Analysis: EUR/USD climbs to near 1.1350

EUR/USD jumps to near 1.1350 on Wednesday, the highest level seen in two weeks. The near-term outlook of the pair is bullish as it holds the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is around 1.1240.

The 14-period Relative Strength Index (RSI) oscillates inside the 40.00-60.00 range, suggesting indecisiveness among traders.

Looking up, the April 28 high of 1.1425 will be the major resistance for the pair. Conversely, the psychological level of 1.1000 will be a key support for the Euro bulls.

Euro FAQs

The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).

The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB's primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates - or the expectation of higher rates - will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.

Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB's 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone's economy.

Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.


Date

Created

 : 2025.05.21

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.05.21

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

GBP/USD soars to new yearly high as UK inflation surges, BoE rate cuts in doubt

The Pound Sterling rose to a new year-to-date (YTD) high of 1.3468 against the US Dollar on Wednesday as UK inflation rose, drifting away from the Bank of England's (BoE) 2% target, which had led to interest rate reductions earlier in the month.
New
update2025.05.22 00:45

NZD/USD climbs as record US trade surplus boosts Kiwi confidence

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) continues to strengthen against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, with the release of a record trade surplus in April highlighting the largest monthly goods surplus on record with the United States.
New
update2025.05.22 00:43

Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD extends upside to near $33.20 on US credit downgrade

Silver price (XAG/USD) hits a fresh weekly high to near $33.20 during North American trading hours on Wednesday. The white metal strengthens as the US Dollar (USD) extends its downside on the United States (US) credit rating erosion in the wake of large debt levels and escalated fiscal imbalances.
New
update2025.05.21 23:58

German Chancellor Merz: There are signs US could be interested in deal with EU

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that there are signs that the United States (US) could be interested in having a trade deal with the European Union (EU), per Reuters.
New
update2025.05.21 23:03

EUR/JPY ticks down to near 163.00, Russia-Ukraine truce talks in focus

The EUR/JPY pair edges down to near 162.90 during North American trading hours on Wednesday. The cross ticks lower as the Japanese Yen (JPY) outperforms across the board, with investors remaining increasingly confident that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will raise interest rates again this year.
New
update2025.05.21 22:58

USD/JPY dips below support as the battle between safe-haven currencies persists

The US Dollar (USD) continues to weaken against the Japanese Yen (JPY), as shifting economic conditions and central bank outlooks reshape expectations for both currencies. 
New
update2025.05.21 21:43

Loonie strengthens for third day as core inflation rises, US Dollar stumbles

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) strengthens further against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, marking a three-day rally, with USD/CAD slipping below 1.3900 as markets digest stronger-than-expected Canadian inflation figures and a broadly subdued Greenback.
New
update2025.05.21 21:28

JPY showing impressive gains vs. USD - Scotiabank

Japanese Yen (JPY) is entering Wednesday's NA session with an impressive 0.4% gain vs. the US Dollar (USD), a mid-performer among the G10 in an environment of broad-based USD weakness, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
New
update2025.05.21 21:03

US Dollar weakens for third straight day as US fiscal concerns linger

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the performance of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, slips for a third consecutive day on Wednesday as markets brace for another playing field of geopolitical tensions.
New
update2025.05.21 21:00

GBP trades to fresh multi-year high - Scotiabank

Pound Sterling (GBP) is entering Wednesday's NA session with a 0.1% gain again the US Dollar (USD) but losses against most of the remaining G10 currencies, trading erratically in response to the release of stronger than expected inflation data, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
New
update2025.05.21 21:00

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel