Euro Holds Near One-Month Low

2026-01-13 13:56 By Joana Ferreira 1 min. read

The euro traded at $1.165, hovering near a one-month low touched last week, as investors assessed the latest US inflation data and its implications for monetary policy.

US headline CPI held at 2.7% in December, while the core rate came in slightly below expectations at 2.6%, supporting the prospect of further Fed rate cuts this year.

At the same time, concerns over the Fed’s independence eased following pushback from several Republican lawmakers against a Justice Department criminal investigation involving Chair Powell.

In Europe, ECB member François Villeroy de Galhau said on Tuesday that expectations of an ECB rate hike this year are “fanciful.” The ECB left policy rates unchanged in December and raised some growth and inflation forecasts, reinforcing market expectations that rates will remain on hold for an extended period.

Eurostat data released last week showed headline inflation slowing to 2.0% in December, back at the ECB’s target.



News Stream
Euro Dips as Trump’s Address Fuels Middle East Uncertainty
The euro retreated toward $1.15 as investor caution returned following President Donald Trump’s prime-time address, which offered no clear timeline for resolving the Middle East conflict. While Trump stated that the US operation was nearing completion, he also vowed more aggressive measures, including possible strikes on electrical plants, over the next two to three weeks. The absence of new justifications for the war further dampened market confidence. Amid persistent uncertainty and growing inflation fears, markets are revisiting expectations for the European Central Bank’s policy direction. Investors now foresee three interest rate hikes in 2026, an increase from the two anticipated just yesterday. Before the conflict, expectations had leaned toward no hikes at all, with some even speculating about potential monetary easing.
2026-04-02
Euro Rebounds on Iran War Optimism
The euro strengthened in early April, climbing to $1.16 and distancing itself from the seven-month lows recorded in mid-March, following US President Donald Trump’s statement that the US could withdraw from Iran within "two or three weeks," regardless of whether a deal with Tehran is reached. The rebound came after a turbulent March, during which the euro lost 2.2% against the USD, its worst monthly performance since July 2025, amid escalating Middle East tensions. However, the Strait of Hormuz crisis remains unresolved, with the effective closure of the critical waterway continuing to disrupt oil supplies and drive prices upward. Ongoing uncertainty and rising inflation concerns have prompted markets to reassess expectations for the European Central Bank’s policy path. Investors now anticipate two interest rate hikes in 2026, down from projections of three hikes earlier this week. Before the war, investors had anticipated no hikes in 2026, with a slight chance of monetary easing.
2026-04-01
Euro Drops Over 2% in March as Middle East Tensions Weigh
The euro closed March at $1.15, nearing its lowest point in nearly two weeks, after a volatile month marked by escalating tensions in the Middle East. The common currency lost over 2% against the dollar as traders assessed the economic impact of the deepening conflict. Adding to the uncertainty, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that US President Donald Trump had signaled a potential end to the US military campaign against Iran, even if the critical Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked. Soaring oil prices fueled inflation across Europe, prompting markets to drastically revise their expectations for the European Central Bank’s policy. Investors now anticipate at least two interest rate hikes in 2026, abandoning earlier forecasts of a 40% chance of a rate cut. While French central bank chief François Villeroy de Galhau reaffirmed the ECB’s commitment to curbing energy-driven inflation, he cautioned that it was “too early” to specify the timing of any rate adjustments.
2026-03-31