EUR/USD posts modest gains ahead of US GDP data

EUR/USD posts modest gains near 1.0700, benefiting from early Thursday’s weaker US dollar. Orders for US durable goods grew 2.6% MoM in March compared to a previous gain of 0.7%; Core goods rose by 0.2% MoM, which was less than anticipated. The ECB’s dovish posture, which maintains its intention to lower interest rates this year, is detrimental to the euro.

Traders will be attentively watching the announcement of the US Q1 GDP growth statistics. On Thursday morning during the early Asian session, the EUR/USD pair is trading close to the psychological threshold of 1.0700. The lower US Dollar (USD) is supporting the key pair’s minor advance. Germany’s GfK Consumer Confidence Survey for April will be made public later in the day. Furthermore, the preliminary GDP growth estimate for the US will be also released on Thursday.

The US Department of Commerce revealed on Wednesday that Durable Goods Orders in the United States increased 2.6% MoM in March from a 0.7% rise in the previous reading, beating the estimation of 2.5%. Core goods, which excluded transportation, rose by 0.2% MoM, missing the expectation of 0.3%.

The release of US GDP for the first quarter could offer clues of how strong the economy is growing and point to the Fed’s next move. If the report shows stronger-than-expected data, this might trigger speculation that the Fed will delay the rate cut cycle and boost the Greenback. Markets have priced in nearly 70% odds that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut its benchmark rate in September, according to the CME FedWatch tool,

Across the pond, the European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers stick to plans to cut interest rates this year, even though elevated US inflation might delay a pivot to looser policy by the Fed. The ECB President Christine Lagarde suggested that the central bank may cut its deposit rate from a record-high 4% in June, but has kept its options open for further action. The dovish stance of the ECB exerts some selling pressure on the Euro (EUR) and creates a headwind for the EUR/USD pair.