Summary:

• The US Dollar is hitting 19 year highs on Tuesday.
• Russia turns gas taps off Europe, plunging the Euro.
• UK strikes over pay began on Tuesday.
• RBA policy decisions lacked hawkish rhetoric.

Read next: A Global Economic Slowdown Is Causing Risk-Off Sentiment, The US Dollar Remains Strong and AUD Expected To Be Currency Most Affected (EUR/USD, EUR/GBP, GBP/AUD 

US Dollar Continues on its strengthening path

The market is reflecting bearish signals for this currency pair. The US Dollar is hitting 19 year highs on Tuesday, this has been helped by a plunging EUR/USD currency pair, which has set its own 19-year low. Whilst there has been no particular event that has sparked the plunging of the Euro, the combination of a multiple of things has driven its downfall.

Hence, the events include Russian gas deliveries for June which was 40% shorter than expected, this has caused European gas prices to remain elevated. In addition, Nord stream is set to close completely for annual maintenance, where it shuts down completely during July 11-21st, the risk, however, is that the pipeline may not come back online. In addition European Central Bank (ECB) representative Nagel did little to help the Euro as he cautioned against using monetary policy to limit risk premia of indebted states, he also stated that an Anti-Fragmentation tool could only be used during exceptional circumstances. Although Bundesbank’s Nagel is part of the minority, this does raise the risk of a watered-down Anti-Frag tool, which has ultimately disappointed the market expectations.

EUR/USD Price Chart

Russia turns the gas taps off to a pipeline.

The market is reflecting bearish signals for this currency pair. The Euro is on its backfoot against the pound sterling in the wake of surging Eurozone energy prices after Russia cut off the taps to a key pipeline. The Euro has been aggressively sold during the Tuesday trading day, starting from 8am London time. This is putting pressure on the Euro.

EUR/GBP Price Chart

Strikes in the UK began on Tuesday

The market is reflecting bearish signals for this currency pair. Strikes in the UK over salaries began on Tuesday and could cut the country's gas output by almost a quarter and could exacerbate supply shortages in the wake of the war in the Ukraine. There is a possibility that around 15% of Norway's oil output could also be cut by Saturday, this is according to a Reuters calculation and is based on the plans of union members to gradually escalate their action over the coming days. Amidst these facts, the US Dollar remains strong.

GBP/USD Price Chart

GBP/AUD

The pound sterling to Australian Dollar currency pair has been volatile, but may still struggle to rise if the US Dollar doesn't hold onto its Tuesday highs in the coming days. The AUD tumbled before most of its currency counterparts on Tuesday in the wake of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) July policy decision, which saw the cash rate lifted by 0.5% for a second time, taking it up to 1.35% for the time being. Despite this move, the decision was widely expected by the markets, however, the statement that came with the policy decision indicated to the markets that the hawkish rhetoric from the RBA was lacking.

GBP/AUD Price Chart

Sources: finance.yahoo.com, poundsterlinglive.com, dailyfx.com