Euro trims intraday losses as traders weigh Fed-ECB interest rate outlooks

After a rocky start to the day, the Euro (EUR) steadied its position against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday. The pair opened around 1.1636 but quickly rebounded to trade near 1.1658, holding steady above the three-month low of 1.1636. The US Dollar Index (DXY) slipped from its intraday peak of 99.26 to 99.05, reflecting the dollar's mixed fortunes.

Inflationary pressures remained subdued as the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index remained flat, signalling that inflation had not yet moved in the desired direction. Energy prices, buoyed by Middle East tensions, continued to add uncertainty to the outlook for inflation. Traders are betting that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher rates for a longer period, but they are not counting on an immediate rate hike.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's upcoming remarks at the Jackson Hole Symposium could provide much-needed clarity on the Fed's future direction. The US job market showed some resilience, with Initial Jobless Claims falling to 203K, narrowly missing expectations of 208K. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to hike interest rates at its upcoming meeting, with policymakers indicating that the neutral rate may be closer to 2.5%.