It has been a while since EUR/USD experienced such a rapid shift from being a strong performer to a weak one. Investors initially believed that Friedrich Merz, who won the elections, would work wonders and pull the German economy out of its recession. As a result, the exchange rate for this key currency pair rose to two-month highs. However, once it became apparent that this optimism was misplaced, the euro fell sharply.
Multiple factors, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the energy crisis, slowing GDP growth in China, and rising protectionism in the U.S., have transformed Germany from the engine of European growth into one of the weakest economies in the region. The recession projected for 2023-2024, along with the failure of GDP to return to pre-pandemic levels, has significant implications. In this context, the poor performance of the ruling party, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, which is their worst outcome since World War II, seems almost inevitable.
Dynamics of the German economy
Investors viewed Friedrich Merz as a strong leader capable of improving the economy and standing up to Donald Trump. However, as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, he is not a magician. Without the backing of a solid coalition, he cannot effectively implement fiscal measures, and Germany urgently needs to increase its defense spending. The only viable option is to issue more bonds, something Merz has previously criticized.
Excessive optimism has made the euro vulnerable. Nevertheless, things started off positively. German business confidence in the economy increased, and business activity surged, allowing the European Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) to remain stable even as the French index fell to its lowest level in 18 months. Additionally, the expectations index from IFO also showed promising results.
IFO Expectations and Current Conditions indices
The initial faith in Friedrich Merz was strong, but the excitement surrounding the CDU's success quickly dissipated when it became clear that forming a coalition would not be straightforward. The euro had briefly surged above $1.05 multiple times in the past week, but it ultimately couldn't maintain that level and fell back down. If the market doesn't move in the expected direction, does it tend to shift the opposite way?
The results of the German parliamentary elections helped prevent a collapse of the euro, even amidst the worst daily performance of the S&P 500 since mid-December. Typically, a drop in US stock indices indicates a decline in global risk appetite and tends to bolster a safe haven currency like the US dollar. However, that wasn't the case this time.
What once supported the EUR/USD exchange rate now seems capable of undermining it. Friedrich Merz's struggle to quickly form a coalition contributed to the major currency pair falling to 1.0300.
From a technical perspective, the daily chart of EUR/USD shows a pin bar formation with a long upper shadow. The bulls' inability to generate upward momentum and the pair's return to its fair value range suggest a lack of strength. Furthermore, if the euro falls below $1.0455 and $1.0445, it could signal a selling opportunity.
