Special report: ECB decision preview
Today’s report: Finally some relief for the Australian Dollar
US CPI came in as expected on Wednesday, which has kept markets mostly confined to tighter consolidation. At this point, the data confirms expectations for another rate cut from the Fed next week, though at the same time, introduces the possibility the Fed might be less accommodative in 2025.
Wake-up call
- ECB decision
- Cross-related flow
- Policy divergence
- employment report
- No surprises
- card spending
- political outlook
- Macro themes
Peformance chart: 30-Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- 5 Reasons Stocks Keep Hitting Record Highs, S. Hansen, Morningstar (December 10, 2024)
- Javier Milei – One Year Later, R. Zitelmann, Townhall (December 10, 2024)


Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The Euro has been in a multi-month consolidation since bottoming out in 2022. Setbacks have since been exceptionally well supported on dips below 1.0500, with a higher platform sought out ahead of the next major upside extension. Look for a major bounce in the days ahead and the start to a push back towards the 2023 high at 1.1276. Only a monthly close below 1.0400 negates.EURUSD – fundamental overview
Most of the Euro selling continues to come from expectations for a rate cut from the ECB later today. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
Signs have emerged of the market wanting to put in a longer-term base after collapsing to a record low in September 2022. The door is now open for the next major upside extension towards the 2018 high at 1.4377. Setbacks should be well supported above 1.2500 on a monthly close basis.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
The view that the Bank of England will cut rates less aggressively than the ECB has been supporting the Pound, mostly on the cross related selling of EURGBP to +2.5 year lows. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.USDJPY – technical overview
The market is looking to resume the longer-term uptrend after an intense correction in 2024. A higher low is ideally sought out above 140.00 in favor of a bullish continuation. The recent weekly close back above 150.00 strengthens the case for longer-term uptrend resumption.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The Yen has been softer in recent sessions on the combination of a pricing out of odds for a more imminent BOJ rate hike and the pricing in of a less accommodative Fed in 2025. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.AUDUSD – technical overview
There are signs of the potential formation of a longer-term base with the market trading down into a meaningful longer-term support zone. Only a monthly close below 0.6200 would give reason for rethink. A monthly close back above 0.7000 will take the big picture pressure off the downside and strengthen case for a bottom.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
Finally some good news out of Australia after the Australia jobs report came in well above forecast. This has resulted in a round of Aussie outperformance on this Thursday. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.USDCAD – technical overview
A sustained hold above 1.3000 over the past several months signals an end to a period of longer-term bearish consolidation and suggests the market is in the process of carving out a more significant longer-term base. Next key resistance now comes in up into the 1.4500-1.5000 area, exposing a retest of the 2020 high just ahead of 1.4700. Setbacks should be very well supported down into the 1.3000 area.USDCAD – fundamental overview
It's been a classic case of buy the rumor, sell the fact with this pair. On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada came out and cut rates by 50 basis points as had been widely expected and already priced in. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.NZDUSD – technical overview
Overall pressure remains on the downside with the market continuing to stall out on runs up into the 0.6500 area. At the same time, there are some signs of the market wanting to put in a longer-term base. Ultimately, a break back above 0.6500 would be required to take the medium-term pressure off the downside and encourage this prospect. A monthly close below 0.5800 will intensify bearish price action.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has managed to rally out from Wednesday's yearly low, getting help from the Aussie momentum on the back of the stronger Aussie jobs report. However, upside has been limited with the market still needing to contend with softer Kiwi data, this time from a discouraging NZ credit card spending read. Key standouts on Thursday’s calendar come from the ECB policy decision, US producer prices, and US initial jobless claims.US SPX 500 – technical overview
The longer term uptrend remains intact and dips continue to be exceptionally well supported. Critical support comes in at 5679, with only a break back below this level to compromise the structure and open the door for a more significant corrective decline. Until then, the focus remains on a continued push to fresh record highs.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
The US equities market remains exceptionally well supported in 2024 on the back of an ongoing expectation for more rate cuts than less going forward. Investors are feeling better about a soft landing in the US economy and this has also been accompanied by an accommodative adjustment of Fed policy. Moreover, there has been a fresh wave of market optimism in the aftermath of the Trump election victory. It will however be important to keep an eye on inflation, bigger picture economic data, and geopolitical risk in the weeks and months ahead.GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
The 2019 breakout above the 2016 high at 1375 was a significant development, opening the door for fresh record highs and this next major upside extension into the 3000 area. Setbacks should now be well supported above 2500 on a monthly close basis.GOLD (SPOT) – fundamental overview
The yellow metal has pushed record highs in 2024 with solid demand from medium and longer-term accounts. These players are more concerned about inflation, geopolitical risk and a less upbeat global growth outlook. All of this should keep the commodity well supported over the coming months.