empty
04.12.2023 09:36 PM
EUR/USD: Will euro maintain seasonal strength this December?

Winter in 2023 arrived too early. Typically, American stock indices rise towards the end of December, a phenomenon known as the Santa Claus rally. However, the S&P 500 already gained about 9% in November amid an increased probability of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy easing in 2024. As a result, global risk appetite increased, and EUR/USD quotes soared to three-month highs. Whether the upward movement will continue depends on investors' Greed.

MUFG notes the seasonal strength of the euro in December. Over the last 20 years, the average increase in the main currency pair at the end of the first month of winter has been 2.6%. Even if we exclude its surge by 10.1% in 2008, the indicator will still exceed 2%. In 8 out of 11 cases when EUR/USD closed in the green zone in November, it increased in value in December. This rally is usually driven by an improvement in global risk appetite, rebalancing of investment portfolios, and an influx of travelers to Europe for Christmas. All these factors may come into play in 2023, but MUFG still advises paying attention to new macroeconomic statistics.

Investors expected Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to throw a wrench into the S&P 500 and EUR/USD. However, Powell did not say anything new in his speech at the end of the week by December 1. Interest rates are in a range that limits economic growth. They may rise if necessary. It is too early to talk about easing monetary policy. We've heard all this before. Should it be surprising that U.S. stock indices rose, allowing them to close the fifth consecutive week in the green zone?

Dynamics of market expectations and the Fed's monetary expansion in different cycles

This image is no longer relevant

Derivatives increased the chances of the first rate cut in federal funds in March from less than 50% to 60%. They expect borrowing costs to fall by 125 basis points in 2024. And these are not the most aggressive forecasts. On average, six months passed between the last rate hike and its cut. In most cases, except perhaps 1995, the Fed eased monetary policy faster than investors currently expect.

This image is no longer relevant

In conditions of market Greed, EUR/USD quotes should have risen higher. However, investors are betting that the ECB will start the monetary expansion cycle earlier than the Fed against the backdrop of a faster slowdown in inflation in the eurozone than in the United States. Being the first is not very pleasant, making the euro one of the outsiders in Forex. It is not surprising that the major currency pair is trying to find a consolidation range. The tops cannot, the bottoms do not want to.

Technically, on the daily chart, the formation of a doji bar with a large lower shadow indicates the weakness of the bears. Breaking its high at 1.0915 is a reason to form long positions. However, if the bulls fail to grasp the fair value at 1.0875, this will be a signal of their extremely vulnerable position. At the same time, a drop below 1.085 will provide an opportunity to increase the shorts formed from 1.094.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

GBP/USD Overview – June 9: Nonfarms Did Not Disappoint

The GBP/USD currency pair also traded lower on Friday and even settled slightly below the moving average line. While we constantly say there are no reasons for the pound

Paolo Greco 04:03 2025-06-09 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – June 9: A New Episode of the "American Circus"

The EUR/USD currency pair traded with a slight decline on Friday, which was driven by decent macroeconomic data from the U.S. However, reports from the Eurozone also turned out quite

Paolo Greco 04:03 2025-06-09 UTC+2

EUR/USD. Weekly Preview. Inflation and More Inflation

The upcoming trading week will revolve around American inflation. In the United States, data will be published on the growth of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Producer Price Index

Irina Manzenko 02:39 2025-06-09 UTC+2

U.S. Dollar: Weekly Preview

In the United States, as usual, there will be far more interesting events and news than in the Eurozone or the United Kingdom. Economic data will start arriving on Wednesday

Chin Zhao 00:55 2025-06-09 UTC+2

British Pound: Weekly Preview

In the United Kingdom, the news background for the upcoming week will be much more interesting, although I do not believe it will significantly impact market sentiment. The pound continues

Chin Zhao 00:55 2025-06-09 UTC+2

Euro Currency: Weekly Preview

Boredom—pure and simple. That's how the upcoming week looks for the European currency. I want to clarify from the beginning that this review focuses solely on the European news background

Chin Zhao 00:55 2025-06-09 UTC+2

The Market Realized That Money Isn't Everything

Which is stronger — money or power? The answer to this question became clear very quickly. In the conflict between the most influential president in the world, Donald Trump

Marek Petkovich 00:07 2025-06-09 UTC+2

Bitcoin Heads for Conflict

The biggest surprise of June has been the divergence between U.S. stock indices and cryptocurrencies. The S&P 500 and Bitcoin are typically considered risk assets, historically moving hand in hand

Marek Petkovich 00:07 2025-06-09 UTC+2

XAU/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, gold maintains a positive tone; however, bulls are acting cautiously, preferring to refrain from aggressive buying ahead of the release of the important U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report

Irina Yanina 15:30 2025-06-06 UTC+2

WTI. West Texas Intermediate. Traders Await NFP

Prices for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil remain in the middle of a three-day range. Prices are supported by hopes for the resumption of trade negotiations between the U.S

Irina Yanina 11:23 2025-06-06 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.