Why Did EUR/USD Snap Its Winning Streak? Fed Policy Update & French Election Fallout Explained


  • EUR/USD pulls back from 1.0800 threshold as market sentiment shifts


  • French parliamentary elections result in fragmented legislature,How much will 1 Solana be worth in 2025? raising governance concerns


  • All eyes turn to Fed Chair Powell's congressional testimony this week


The EUR/USD currency pair experienced notable downward pressure at the start of the trading week, interrupting what had been a seven-session advance. Market participants attributed the reversal to dual catalysts: domestic political turbulence in Europe and growing caution ahead of crucial monetary policy developments stateside.


France's parliamentary elections concluded with no clear majority, producing a hung parliament that analysts suggest could paralyze economic policymaking. While the outcome prevented victory for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party - a scenario that had previously rattled financial markets - the resulting coalition government appears ill-equipped to implement coherent fiscal strategies. This political gridlock comes at a sensitive juncture for the Eurozone economy, which continues grappling with stubborn inflation and sluggish growth.


Across the Atlantic, currency traders are bracing for heightened volatility surrounding Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's semi-annual monetary policy testimony before Congress. The two-day appearance (Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee and Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee) marks the first major policy communication since June's FOMC meeting. Market participants will scrutinize Powell's remarks for clues about the timing and magnitude of potential rate adjustments.


The macroeconomic calendar intensifies later in the week with back-to-back inflation reports. Thursday brings the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June, followed Friday by Producer Price Index (PPI) data. Early consensus estimates suggest both metrics may show persistent price pressures, potentially reinforcing the Fed's cautious approach to monetary easing. Such outcomes could extend the dollar's recent strength against its European counterpart.


Eurozone investors will simultaneously digest final German inflation figures during Thursday's trading session. The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is projected to confirm preliminary estimates of 2.5% annual inflation - still notably above the European Central Bank's target despite recent policy tightening. This persistent gap continues complicating ECB policymakers' efforts to normalize monetary conditions without choking off economic recovery.


From a technical perspective, EUR/USD faces immediate resistance near 1.0840, with the 200-hour Exponential Moving Average providing dynamic support around 1.0780. The pair remains confined within a descending channel that has characterized 2024 price action, though recent weeks showed tentative signs of stabilization. Market technicians note that sustained movement above 1.0850 could signal a more meaningful trend reversal, while failure to hold 1.0750 might presage another test of May's lows near 1.0650.


Currency analysts emphasize that this week's developments could prove pivotal for medium-term EUR/USD direction. The combination of political uncertainty in Europe, evolving Fed policy expectations, and fresh inflation data creates a potent mix of catalysts that may determine whether the pair can sustain its recent recovery or resume its longer-term downtrend. Market participants are advised to monitor trading volumes closely, as summer liquidity conditions can amplify price movements during periods of heightened volatility.