US producer prices posted the largest increase in more than four years last month amid higher energy-related production costs, official figures revealed on Tuesday. The US Labor Department reported its Producer Price Index advanced 0.6% in January, while market analysts expected the Index to remain unchanged from the previous month at 0.3%. That marked the largest gain since September 2012. However, on an annual basis, producer prices climbed just 1.6% in the first month of 2017, after a similar increase in December.
In the meantime, the so-called core PPI, which excludes volatile items, jumped 0.4% month-over-month in January, compared with analysts' expectations for an unchanged reading of 0.2%. Year-over-year, core producer prices grew 1.6% last month, following December's gain of 1.7% and providing support for the view that the Federal Reserve could raise rates in the upcoming months as promised. Back in December, the Central bank raised its overnight rate to a range of 0.50-0.75% and projected three more rate hikes in 2017. The Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday that the Bank would probably increase rates already at its next policy meeting in March. Following Janet Yellen's comments, the US Dollar hit its three-week high against a basket of currencies, while US government bonds dropped markedly.
Upcoming events: CPI, Retail Sales and Yellen continues to testify
It is the second day of Janet Yellen, chairwoman of the Fed, testifying to the US Congress. That is set to cause the most fluctuations, as the chair of the Federal Reserve is set to give fundamental information regarding US monetary policy. She will begin to testify at 15:00 GMT. However, before that there will be other data releases, which might influence the markets. Particularly, at 13:30 GMT, a package of US fundamental data will be out. The package will consist of US CPI, Core CPI; Retail Sales and Core Retail Sales.
EUR/USD marks a week of losses
Daily Chart: The common European currency continues its path lower against the US Dollar, as the currency exchange rate continues exactly as forecasted. The pair has reached the weekly S1, which is located at 1.0568. The rate has found support in the weekly level of significance. However, it is clear that the Euro weakness is set to continue to fall. In that case the closest notable support level will be located at 1.0496. Although, it is most likely that the currency exchange rate will fluctuate above the recently found support for some time before continuing the set path.Markets are neutral bullish
SWFX traders remain neutral bullish, as 52% of trader set up orders are long on Wednesday. In the meantime, 60% of trader set up orders are to sell the Euro.
Spreads (avg,pip) / Trading volume / Volatility
Average forecast says EUR/USD will trade around 1.07 in May
Traders, who were questioned on their longer-term views on EUR/USD between January 15 and February 15 expect, on average, the currency pair to trade around 1.07 by the middle of May. In general, 52% (+1%) of participants believe the exchange rate will be generally below 1.06 in ninety days, and 24% (+1%) see it below 1.02. In the meantime, 18% (-3%) of those surveyed reckon the pair will trade above 1.12 in three months.