Euro persistence
Currencies Direct March 25th 2011 - 2 minute read

The Euros resistance to bad news has been remarkable. Recent blows include the rejection of the Portuguese governmentâs austerity plan, a likely hold-up in the attempt to increase the size and scope of the EFSF EU bailout fund, a fall in Eurozone PMI this month and finally a decision last night to downgrade Portugalâ sovereign credit rating by Fitch and S&P. In spite of all of this, and following touching a low of around EUR/USD 1.4054, EUR has bounced back close to the 1.4200 level.
Further guidance will derive from the result of the EU leadersâ summit today and the March German IFO business confidence survey. For the former it is doubtful to be a conclusive result, with the hopefulness following the unofficial March 11 leadersâ summit likely to provide further delay due to internal strife over details. For the latter, a minor restraint in the IFO is likely after Februaryâs surprise high. However, there is a bigger threat of a downside revelation following the weaker than forecast March German manufacturing PMI. Alongside this background, EUR/USD is likely to resist to break resistance around 1.4249.
Overall foreign exchange markets look somewhat more steady and even the weight on the greenback appears to have temporarily lifted even though a much weaker than anticipated result for US February durable goods orders yesterday, which exposed a fall in both headline and ex-transportation sales. The FX volatility measure has dropped sharply over recent days, led by short term implied JPY volatility which has dropped close to pre-crisis levels. Lower volatility has also likely reduced the likelihood of further FX involvement although the key psychological level of USD/JPY 80 will continue to be well defended.
US data today is unlikely to offer much direction, with a slight upward revision to US Q4 GDP and an unchanged outcome for the final reading of Michigan consumer confidence expected.
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Currencies Direct