Morning Market Review
EURUSD
The European currency shows mixed trading dynamics, consolidating near 0.9950. Investors are in no hurry to open new trading positions, preferring to wait for the publication of the US Federal Reserve decision on interest rates. However, the euro still traded mainly with a downtrend, which again led to the consolidation of the instrument below the psychological level of 1.0000. Some pressure on the EUR/USD pair was exerted by the deteriorating prospects for the region's economy, in connection with which the authorities are taking decisive action to curb inflation. In particular, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, spoke the day before, saying that in order to curb a sharp rise in prices, it may be necessary to raise interest rates to levels that will limit economic growth altogether. The current inflation rate in the eurozone is above 9.0% and is unlikely to fall anytime soon. Macroeconomic data released yesterday in Germany pointed to a sharp rise in producer prices. In August, the Producer Price Index rose by 7.9% after rising by 5.3% a month earlier, while analysts expected a slowdown to 1.5%, and in annual terms, the index accelerated from 37.2% to 45.8%, which also turned out to be higher than the estimated 37.5%.
GBPUSD
The British pound is trading with a weak downtrend, testing the level of 1.1370 for a breakdown. The GBP/USD pair is holding just one step away from its record lows, reacting to the prospect of further economic slowdown amid continued high inflation. However, traders prefer to stay out of the market until new drivers are released. Today, the US Federal Reserve will announce its decision on interest rates. It is expected that the US regulator will go for another increase in the value of 75 basis points, bringing it to 3.25%. At the same time, agency officials may signal the continuation of the current course of tightening monetary policy for the near future, given that the pace of slowdown in consumer prices is clearly insufficient. Tomorrow there will be meetings of the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and the National Bank of Switzerland. The British regulator is also expected to take steps aimed at tightening monetary policy; in addition, officials have repeatedly announced significant risks of a recession in the national economy already in the fourth quarter. Current forecasts suggest that the Bank of England will raise the rate by 50 basis points to 2.25%.
XAUUSD
Gold prices show a slight decline, developing a weak downward momentum formed the day before. The XAU/USD pair is testing 1660.00 for a breakdown, waiting for the publication of new drivers on the market. The focus of investors' attention on Wednesday is the publication of the decision of the US Federal Reserve on interest rates. Investors have already included a 75 basis point increase in current quotes, but it is possible that the regulator will adjust the cost of borrowing immediately by 1.0%. Either way, gold remains under pressure as global central banks hike interest rates. This week, similar steps are also expected from the Bank of England and the National Bank of Switzerland, and the day before the Bank of Sweden raised the value immediately by 100 basis points. In turn, the growing geopolitical risks, as well as the threat of a recession in the global economy, provide moderate support to the precious metal.