Gold Breaks Out as EUR/USD Eyes ECB; Powell, BoC & NFP Loom

Most Read: Gold Price Forecast: Bullish Breakout Continuation Hinges on US Jobs Data

This week promises a healthy dose of potential market volatility, driven by a lineup of high-impact events from central bank decisions to the all-important U.S. jobs report. Let’s break down some of the key catalysts to watch in the days ahead:

Tuesday: Eyes on U.S. Services Activity

The U.S. ISM Services PMI for February will offer an early glimpse into the health of the dominant services sector. While a modest decline to 53.0 is projected, any significant deviation from this estimate in the final result could spark large price swings in the U.S. dollar by shifting FOMC interest rate expectations.

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Wednesday: Central Bank Double-Header

Bank of Canada (BoC): No change in interest rates is anticipated, with traders largely prepared for another dovish hold. The bank’s tone and guidance on future rate policy should be closely watched for clues as to when the easing cycle might begin. Surprises here could create waves for the Canadian dollar.

Fed Focus: Fed Chair Powell delivers the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress and later testifies before the House Financial Services Committee. This offers an opportunity for Powell to give further insight into policymakers’ current thinking, particularly the timing of future rate cuts.

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Thursday: European Central Bank Takes the Stage, Powell Redux

ECB Decision: While no rate changes are anticipated from the ECB, recent weak European data could lead the institution to adopt a more dovish tone. Any signals that policymakers are starting to contemplate rate cuts in the near future should exert downward pressure on the euro.

Powell’s Testimony Redux: Powell is scheduled to present his Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to U.S. legislators, but this time, he’ll address the Senate Banking Committee. However, with his Wednesday testimony still fresh in memory, this event shouldn’t bring groundbreaking revelations.

Curious about what lies ahead for the U.S. dollar? Explore all the insights in our quarterly forecast!

Friday: Jobs Report in the Limelight

The week culminates with the February U.S. nonfarm payrolls report. Consensus forecasts point to 200K jobs added, but remember, employment data has a history of delivering upside surprises recently.

A significantly stronger-than-expected report could signal continued labor market strength, potentially delaying the Fed’s rate-cutting cycle. This would be bullish for the U.S. dollar, but bearish for gold and risk assets.

Conversely, weak job growth could fuel expectations of a more dovish Fed, sending interest rate expectations lower. In this scenario, gold could rise as the U.S. dollar slides.

For a comprehensive overview of the factors that could impact financial markets and contribute to volatility in the upcoming trading sessions, peruse the thoughtfully curated selection of key forecasts by the DailyFX team.

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FUNDAMENTAL AND TECHNICAL FORECASTS

British Pound Weekly Forecast: Sterling Becalmed as Spring Budget Looms

The British Pound remains confined to narrowing ranges against the United States Dollar in a market where volatility has plummeted.

Euro Trade Setups Ahead of ECB Decision – EUR/USD, EUR/GBP and EUR/JPY

Next week’s ECB meeting is unlikely to see any change in monetary policy, but post-decision commentary may give traders a better view when the first rate-cut is set to be announced.

Gold Price Forecast: Bullish Breakout Continuation Hinges on US Jobs Data

Gold surges past crucial resistance levels, hitting its highest mark since December of the previous year. The sustainability of this week’s bullish breakout, however, depends on the upcoming U.S. jobs report.

US Dollar Forecast: Markets Eye NFP After Manufacturing Scare

US manufacturing data revealed a slowdown in ‘new orders’ and ‘employment’ sending the dollar lower on Friday. However, NFP data remains the focus next week.

Article Body Written by Diego Colman, Contributing Strategist for DailyFX.com

— Individual Articles Composed by DailyFX Team Members