The EUR/USD pair is plunging across all pairs, developing a downtrend. The EUR/USD bears managed to overcome the support level of 1.0770 (the upper limit of the Kumo cloud on the daily chart) – this is a multi-week price low (since March 27). The next barrier is at the 1.0650 mark (Kijun-sen line on the weekly chart). The key fundamental factor, thanks to which the greenback is gaining momentum, is still in force, so the downtrend is unlikely to weaken by the end of the current week. This refers to the threat of default in the U.S. The threat is not diminishing, but on the contrary, it's becoming stronger and more tangible with each day.
The situation is contradictory. On the one hand, everyone understands that the parties will eventually come to an agreement, as has been the case year after year. On the other hand, the world press continues to escalate the situation, modeling catastrophic scenarios if the US were to default on the national debt for the first time in history. And although there is a low probability of this scenario, it cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, the conditional probability of "0.0 (...) 1%" is taken quite seriously by the market, with all the ensuing consequences.
Threat of Default or Groundless Panic?
The dollar is a beneficiary of the current situation. Due to the rising panic in the markets, the greenback is in high demand, including in the EUR/USD pair. Recent events suggest that in the coming days, American politicians are unlikely to find common ground on the issue of raising the debt limit. At least because the main "negotiator" - Joe Biden - is currently at the G7 summit in Japan. And although the US president cut his schedule, canceling a visit to Australia, he won't return to the US until Saturday. Therefore, at least until the end of this week, the situation will remain in a state of limbo, allowing the dollar bulls to feel confident in all currency pairs. The EUR/USD pair will not be an exception here.
Before heading to Japan, Biden declared he is confident, saying talks with congressional Republicans have been productive. According to him, he will maintain close contact with them during the trip and will hold face-to-face negotiations upon arrival. The White House head also reassured journalists that the U.S. would not default on the national debt.
Judging by the dynamics of the greenback, market participants reacted skeptically to Biden's optimistic statements, partly because he voiced similar rhetoric last weekend, ahead of another failed negotiation round. The seriousness of the situation is also indicated by the fact that Biden unexpectedly canceled planned trips to Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Therefore, traders' skepticism, in my opinion, is quite justified, as the parties only declare their intentions to make a deal, but it is assumed that the corresponding conditions put forward will be met.
As we know, the Republicans claim that an increase in the spending limit can only take place on the condition of significant spending cuts. In particular, they propose cutting tax credits for the purchase of electric cars and the installation of solar panels, as well as reducing government spending on education loan repayment. Democrats, on the other hand, reject such proposals and insist on raising the debt limit without any preliminary conditions.
To date, the sides have not been able to find a compromise, and this fact is supporting the safe dollar.
Growth of Hawkish Expectations
It should be emphasized that the dollar is strengthening its positions not only due to growing risk-off sentiments. The recent statements by Fed officials, which had a "hawkish hue", also lent support to the greenback. Despite the slowdown in US inflation, many members of the Fed do not rule out further steps to tighten monetary policy. For instance, Dallas Fed's head Lorie Logan stated that the incoming data "supports a rate hike at the next meeting."
This position, in one interpretation or another, was voiced by other representatives of the US central bank – specifically, Loretta Mester, Thomas Barkin, Raphael Bostic, and John Williams.
The market reacted to the tightening of rhetoric accordingly: according to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a 25-point rate hike at the June meeting is currently 32%. For comparison, it should be noted that at the beginning of May, the chances of realizing a 25-point scenario were estimated at 5-8%.
Conclusions
The US dollar continues to enjoy high demand – firstly, amid risk aversion, and secondly – due to the growth of hawkish expectations regarding the future actions of the Fed. Such fundamental conditions contribute to the development of a bearish trend. If the Republicans and Democrats do not surprise the markets with an unexpected compromise, then the EUR/USD pair will likely keep heading towards the base of the 7th figure, and further to the support level of 1.0650 (the Kijun-sen line on the weekly chart).