Headline: EUR/USD tests resistance as dollar softens; traders eye December rate-cut odds
The US dollar lost momentum across major currencies last week even after firm US data, including a solid ADP employment print and an upbeat ISM Services PMI. The reaction suggests fatigue in the recent USD trend and a market that now needs stronger catalysts to extend gains. Futures markets imply roughly a 63% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, but the upcoming Nonfarm Payrolls and CPI releases remain decisive for the policy outlook.
On the euro side, the European Central Bank left policy unchanged and reiterated that current settings are appropriate. That stance is supported by recent Eurozone indicators: business activity has shown signs of stabilizing and core inflation is holding near 2.4% year over year. Against this backdrop, EUR/USD has advanced toward a key confluence area near 1.1573, where a descending trendline adds technical resistance. A sustained break above the 1.16 zone would strengthen bullish momentum and open the door toward the 1.1700 handle, while failure to clear resistance keeps sellers in play for a move back toward 1.1393. Intraday, a drop below 1.1542 would tilt the short-term bias back to bearish and could accelerate downside.
The near-term calendar is relatively light, with the ADP employment report up next before the marquee NFP and CPI prints. With positioning sensitive and the dollar on the back foot, EUR/USD price action is likely to be driven by data surprises and how they reshape expectations for a December FOMC rate cut.
Key Points: – USD eased broadly despite solid ADP and ISM Services data, signaling trend fatigue – Markets price about a 63% probability of a December Federal Reserve rate cut – ECB kept policy unchanged; Eurozone PMIs firmed and core inflation is near 2.4% y/y – EUR/USD faces resistance around 1.1573–1.1600; a break targets the 1.1700 area – Failure at resistance risks a pullback toward 1.1393; sub-1.1542 turns the short-term trend bearish – Data calendar is light ahead of NFP and CPI, with the ADP report the next catalyst
