EUR/USD Nears 1.0550 After Rebounding from Yearly Lows

The EUR/USD pair has broken its five-day losing streak, trading close to 1.0540 during the Asian session on Friday. This recovery appears to stem from a pullback in the US Dollar (USD) following recent remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Powell noted that the US economy has shown “remarkable resilience,” providing the Fed with the flexibility to gradually reduce interest rates.

In October, the US Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 2.4% year-over-year, up from a revised 1.9% in September (initially 1.8%) and slightly above market expectations of 2.3%. Core PPI, which excludes food and energy, also rose by 3.1% YoY, modestly surpassing the anticipated 3.0%.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the USD against six major currencies, has slipped from its yearly peak of 107.06 reached on Thursday, partly due to a slowdown in risk trades. At present, the DXY is around 106.80.

On the European front, European Central Bank (ECB) board member Isabel Schnabel emphasized on Thursday that interest rate changes should remain the ECB’s primary policy instrument, with bond purchases and forward guidance used more selectively.

Minutes from the ECB’s October Monetary Policy Meeting reveal a growing openness to potential rate cuts. However, ECB officials remain cautious about inflationary pressures within the Eurozone, particularly due to strong wage growth and lagging labor productivity. The ECB underscored the importance of further data before making any policy adjustments.