ECB Leak Sparks Rate Hike Speculation: What's in Store for the Euro (EUR)?

EUR: ECB leak points to a potential rate hike?

Reuters reported, according to an unnamed source, that ECB’s new 2024 inflation projection could be above 3% vs. 3% in June. This has firmed up the case for another interest rate hike this week, with market now pricing in a more than even chance of a rate hike. We noted earlier that markets may be under-pricing the risk of an ECB rate hike in last week’s Macro/FX Watch, and the scenario still holds. Stagflation concerns are picking up in the Eurozone, which keeps rate hike bets measured. But worth considering that if some of the ECB members think that inflation is entrenched beyond the near-term disinflation, then the window to hike rates is extremely small until the Fed pause turns out to be the end of the tightening cycle. Next ECB meeting will be October 26, by when we may have started to see a more clear weakness in US spending data.

However, even if the ECB decided to hike rates this week, sending out hawkish vibes may remain tough, which suggests that the upside for EUR may be limited and short-lived. EURUSD rallied to 1.0765 before reversing and the message will have to be extremely hawkish along with a 25bps rate hike for EURUSD to challenge the 200DMA at 1.0828.

Market Takeaway: EURUSD could remain supported into the September 14 ECB meeting but upside could evade even if the ECB hikes rates. More upside likely in EURGBP which is seen challenging 100DMA at 0.8614.

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