EUR/USD seeks to break a four-week downtrend near 1.1000, with a focus on US data and Ukraine

The EUR/USD is licking its wounds after the ECB while making its way to 1.1000, up 0.15 percent intraday during the mid-Asian session on Friday. The pair’s recent movements could be attributed to the market’s uncertainty about the key risk catalysts, as well as a USD pullback. Nonetheless, the major currency pair is on track to end its four-week losing streak.

The US Senate’s passage of a $13.6 billion aid package to Ukraine and a $1.5 trillion bill to avoid a government shutdown could magnify Western aid to Kyiv, as seen in today’s United Nations (UN) Security Council, which weighs on EUR/USD prices. Concerns about a new surge in China’s covid cases, as well as fears about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are all on the same page. The quote was under downward pressure as a result of this. The previous day’s US inflation data and subsequent hopes for faster Fed rate hikes may also have contributed to the pair’s weakness.

Alternatively, uncertainty over Russia’s military position in Ukraine, as well as a lack of major data/events in Asia, appears to limit EUR/USD downside. Having said that, reports of a Russian military attack on a Kharkiv institute containing an experimental nuclear reactor initially shook the market before the news of no negatives quelled fears. Similarly, reports that Moscow’s forces are gradually dispersing and may be retreating favoured the optimists prior to the US Satellite company Maxar’s update indicating more troops being redeployed.

Among these bets, the S&P 500 Futures fell 0.5 percent on the day, while US 10-year Treasury yields fell 4.4 basis points (bps) to 1.965 percent by press time. Furthermore, the US Dollar Index (DXY) remains undecided around 98.50 but remains determined to reverse the previous four-week uptrend.

It’s worth noting that the European Central Bank (ECB) cited inflationary challenges while releasing details on faster Quantitative Tapering (QT) the day before. Euro traders, on the other hand, focused on the eurozone’s currency’s downwardly revised growth forecasts and upwardly revised inflation expectations. “The ECB’s statement, which left the door open to raising interest rates before the end of 2022 because soaring inflation outweighs concerns about the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “The euro rose briefly before market sentiment turned negative,” according to Reuters.

The risk-off mood, on the other hand, combined with new 40-year high US Consumer Price Index (CPI) prints of 7.9 percent YoY to propel the US Dollar the previous day. It should be noted that the CME’s FedWatch Tool shows 94 percent probability of a rate hike in March at the latest. Looking ahead, the UN meeting and updates from Ukraine may keep the driver’s seat, while the US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for March, which is expected to be 61.3 versus 62.8, will also be important to watch for new EUR/USD directions.