EUR/USD: ECB rate cut is forecast by a quarter of a percent
The EUR/USD pair is trading near the 1.1015 mark, being close to the local lows recorded on August 16. Market activity remains low as investors await the decision of the European Central Bank (ECB), which will be announced today at 14:15 (GMT+2). It is expected that the regulator will reduce the main interest rate by 25 basis points — from 4.25% to 4.00%, and the deposit rate — from 3.75% to 3.50%. However, inflationary risks remain significant. Recent data on the growth of the eurozone's gross domestic product (GDP) for the quarter were revised from 0.3% to 0.2%, which, along with a deterioration in business sentiment, raises concerns about economic growth in the region. Although the market is not considering the possibility of reducing rates by 50 basis points, the situation may change depending on incoming data. It is likely that Christine Lagarde, the head of the ECB, will maintain a rhetoric focused on flexibility and analysis of economic indicators at each meeting. Investors will closely monitor the comments of other ECB representatives in order to adjust their expectations regarding the regulator's further steps by the end of the year.
In parallel, inflation data from the United States, published on Wednesday, showed a sharp slowdown in annual dynamics to 2.5% in August, which is lower than the forecast of 2.6%. Monthly inflation was 0.2%, as expected. The core consumer price index (excluding food and energy) remained at 3.2% year-on-year and rose slightly from 0.2% to 0.3% over the month. These data did not change market expectations regarding a possible rate cut by the US Federal Reserve by 25 basis points in September.
- Resistance levels: 1.1050, 1.1100, 1.1150, 1.1200.
- Support levels: 1.1000, 1.0964, 1.0930, 1.0900.
GBP/USD: UK GDP for July remained unchanged
The GBP/USD pair is reducing positions from annual highs against the background of the strengthening of the US dollar and is currently trading at 1.3044.
Economic data from the UK for July turned out to be weaker than expected, which did not allow the pound to move to an upward trend. Gross domestic product (GDP) in monthly terms remained at the same level, while experts predicted growth of 0.2%. On an annualized basis, GDP increased from 0.7% to 1.2%, but this turned out to be lower than the projected 1.4%. The weakening of the economy is due to a drop in industrial production: in July, its volumes decreased by 0.8% on a monthly basis and by 1.2% on an annual basis. The National Institute of Economics and Social Research (NIESR) has revised its forecast for GDP growth in August from 0.5% to 0.3% in quarterly terms. Against this background, investors' attention is also focused on employment indicators. In July, the number of employed increased from 97.0 thousand to 265.0 thousand, and the number of applications for unemployment benefits in August decreased to 23.7 thousand, with expectations of 95.5 thousand. The unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1%, and average wages slowed to 4.0% against forecasts of 4.1%. These indicators may allow the Bank of England to continue easing monetary policy. It is expected that at the meeting on September 19, the regulator may reduce the interest rate by 25 basis points.
- Resistance levels: 1.3080, 1.3260.
- Support levels: 1.3000, 1.2850.
USD/JPY: exchange rate is falling under the influence of Naoki Tamura's speech
The USD/JPY pair rose to the level of 142.98, which was facilitated by statements by Naoki Tamura, a member of the Board of the Bank of Japan.
On Thursday, Tamura, answering questions about a possible increase in interest rates by the end of the year or in the first quarter of next year, noted that the timing will depend on current economic and inflationary conditions. Unlike the United States and Europe, where changes in rates occur more quickly, Japan is likely to act more restrained. According to him, the country's economy is developing in accordance with forecasts made in July, but excessive attention to market stability may limit the freedom of action of the Bank of Japan in conducting an adequate monetary policy in the face of changing price dynamics. Tamura also stressed that undesirable volatility can complicate the management of the economy, so it is important to act gradually to avoid sharp fluctuations in the markets. In the long term, the regulator should follow fundamental economic indicators, carefully raising rates and assessing the impact of each step. Against the background of these statements, the USD/JPY pair reached new heights, exceeding Wednesday's maximum at 142.55 and rising to 143.04.
- Resistance levels: 144.10, 147.00, 149.25.
- Support levels: 140.80, 137.63, 134.00.
Silver market analysis
The XAG/USD pair continues to move within the corrective trend, trading at around 28.73. At the same time, the dynamics of silver is significantly inferior to gold, which remains at a level close to historical highs, demonstrating a more stable position in the precious metals market.
The demand for silver futures is noticeably decreasing: the average daily trading volume for the current week fell from 67.2 thousand to 51.4 thousand contracts. Option activity also remains at a minimum level — only 9,699 contracts were concluded the day before, which is one of the lowest figures since the beginning of summer. Such a drop in activity indicates that investors do not expect significant movements in the price of silver in the short term and prefer to refrain from transactions with this asset, waiting for clearer signals from the market. As a result, silver is now less attractive compared to gold and foreign exchange assets, and significant changes in the dynamics of quotations should not be expected in the near future.
- Resistance levels: 29.10, 30.10.
- Support levels: 28.40, 26.60.