A rally in European stock indices, slowing U.S. inflation, and the fact that the average U.S. tariff has not changed significantly despite the 90-day deferral all contributed to the rise of EUR/USD. The main currency pair seems ready to restore its bullish trend and appears unconcerned about the slowdown in the German economy or the European Central Bank's upcoming deposit rate cut.
The impressive surge in the EuroStoxx 600 echoed the record-breaking rally of the S&P 500 — the strongest since 2008. Donald Trump's decision to introduce a tariff deferral encouraged investors on both sides of the Atlantic. According to the U.S. administration, about 70 countries are ready for negotiations, and 15 have already submitted concrete proposals. Capital inflows into the Eurozone have been one of the key drivers of the EUR/USD rally in 2025. It's no surprise that bulls enthusiastically welcomed the rise in European equities.
EuroStoxx 600 Performance
The slowdown in U.S. consumer prices added fuel to the dollar selloff against major global currencies. In March, the monthly core inflation rate fell to 0.1%—the lowest level in the past nine months. The figure rose by 2.8% yearly, marking the slowest pace in four years.
The final CPI figures suggest that the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge—the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index—is also likely to decelerate in March. This could lead to a potential federal funds rate cut in the coming months and deal a blow to EUR/USD bears.
U.S. Inflation Trends
Moreover, recession risks in the U.S. economy haven't disappeared. Markets tend to react first and analyze later. Investors heard the word "deferral" from the White House but ignored that the universal 10% tariff remains in effect, and the rate on Chinese imports has increased to 125%. As a result, the average tariff rate has barely changed — falling only slightly from 27% to 24%. This is the highest level since the early 1900s and negatively impacts the global and U.S. economies.
The euro also gained support from the European Union's decision to delay the tariffs it had planned as retaliation for the U.S. 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Is Brussels happy about the drop in tariffs from 20% to 10%? That final 10% remains in place and is expected to weigh heavily on the eurozone economy. According to German research institutes, Germany's GDP is expected to grow by just 0.1% in 2025. Nevertheless, the lesser one is often chosen when faced with two evils.
Technically, on the daily chart, EUR/USD attempts to restore its upward trend. Long positions initiated from 1.097 and added to the move above 1.105 should be held. Target levels for the long side remain at 1.13 and 1.16.
