Euro falls to six-week high

The euro has extended its losses on Friday. EUR/USD is trading at 1.0675 in the European session, down 0.59% on the day. The euro is down 1.17% this week and has dropped to its lowest level since May 1st.

French inflation flat in May

France’s inflation level fell to zero in May, confirming the preliminary estimate and down from the 0.5% gain in April. France is the eurozone’s second-largest economy and the downtrend in inflation will be welcome news to the European Central Bank. The central bank delivered a rate cut last week, the first since its rate-tightening cycle began two years ago. ECB policymakers will be closely monitoring inflation data and could consider another cut in the fall if inflation continues to decline towards the 2% target. Eurozone inflation rose 2.4% in April, unchanged from March.

ECB President Lagarde speaks at an event in Croatia later on Friday and investors will be looking for hints as to the ECB’s planned rate path. Another cut in July is unlikely but a signal from Lagarde that additional rate cuts are one the table could boost the euro.

US PPI weaker than expected

In the US, the producer price index rose 0.2%, below the April reading of 0.5% and lower than the market estimate of 0.1%. Yearly, PPI ticked lower to 2.2%, down from a revised 2.3% in March and below the market estimate of 2.5%.

The soft PPI data follows the May CPI report which also showed that inflation on the decline. The downtrend in these two inflation reports have raised expectations of a September rate cut, with a 61% of a quarter-point cut currently, compared to 46% just a week ago, according to CME’s FedWatch.

EUR/USD Technical

• EUR/USD pushed below support at 1.0709 and is testing support at 1.0679. Below, there is support at 1.0629
• 1.0763 and 1.0793 are the next resistance lines

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