- EUR/USD climbed to its highest level in more than six weeks after breaking above 1.1500.
- Softer expectations for further Federal Reserve tightening continued to pressure the US dollar.
- Traders now await ISM manufacturing data before shifting attention to Friday's US payrolls report.
The euro began the week on a stronger footing, extending last week’s rally as broad-based weakness in the US dollar continued to support the common currency. EUR/USD climbed above 1.1500, reaching its highest level since mid-June after investors scaled back expectations that the Federal Reserve will need to resume raising interest rates this year.
Last week’s Fed meeting marked a turning point for the dollar. Although policymakers left interest rates unchanged, markets were unconvinced that officials are prepared to deliver another hike unless inflation accelerates significantly. Treasury yields retreated after the meeting, dragging the greenback lower across major currency pairs and allowing the euro to recover sharply from July’s lows.
At the same time, geopolitical concerns eased after reports that the United States postponed further military action against Iran. The decline in oil prices that followed helped reduce immediate inflation concerns, removing one of the main factors that had recently supported the US dollar.
US economic data now becomes the next catalyst for EUR/USD
With the Federal Reserve now temporarily out of the spotlight, investors are turning their attention to incoming economic data for fresh clues on the direction of US monetary policy.
Monday’s ISM Manufacturing PMI will offer an early indication of how the US industrial sector performed in July after recent signs that business activity has begun to stabilize. Markets will also monitor the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI for confirmation of broader economic momentum.
However, attention is already shifting toward Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls report, widely regarded as the week’s most important release. A resilient labour market could revive expectations for tighter monetary policy later this year, while weaker employment growth would strengthen the view that the Fed has reached the end of its tightening cycle.
That makes this week’s data particularly important for EUR/USD after last week’s breakout.
Euro buyers regain technical control
The technical picture has improved considerably over the past several sessions.
After establishing support around 1.1350, EUR/USD has produced a strong impulsive recovery, breaking through the psychological 1.1500 level while also clearing the descending trendline that had capped prices since June.
The rally has been accompanied by a move back above both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, reinforcing the argument that medium-term bullish momentum is returning. Price is now consolidating just below 1.1560, suggesting buyers are pausing after a rapid advance rather than showing signs of exhaustion.
A sustained move above 1.1558 would expose the June high near 1.1620, while a successful break there could encourage a broader recovery toward 1.1650.
Bullish Outlook
The outlook remains positive while EUR/USD holds above 1.1480. Continued weakness in the US dollar and softer Treasury yields could allow buyers to challenge 1.1558, with 1.1620 becoming the next major upside objective.
Bearish Outlook
Failure to hold above 1.1480 would increase the risk of profit-taking after last week’s rally. A decisive break below 1.1430 could expose 1.1350, signalling that the recent recovery was only corrective rather than the beginning of a broader trend reversal.
On the downside, the first layer of support sits near 1.1480, followed by 1.1455, which represents the midpoint of the latest advance. A move below 1.1430 would weaken the current bullish structure and suggest that sellers are regaining control.
EUR/USD Outlook
The near-term outlook for EUR/USD remains constructive after last week’s decisive break above the 1.1500 psychological level shifted momentum back in favour of buyers. However, the pair is entering a data-heavy week that could determine whether the rally has enough strength to extend toward the June highs. Traders will closely monitor the US ISM Manufacturing PMI and Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls report for fresh clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy path. Softer-than-expected US data could reinforce dollar weakness and lift EUR/USD toward 1.1620, while stronger economic readings may trigger a pullback as investors revive expectations of tighter US monetary policy. For now, the broader bias remains bullish as long as the pair holds above key support around 1.1480.