Euro lost ground on expectations of a rate cut by the ECB in December

09.11.2015

On Monday, euro has lost all the growth of the session, falling again to seven-month low, amid growing expectations that the European Central Bank will lower interest rates in December.

EUR/USD is traded at 1.0736, close to the minimum of 1.0701 reached on Friday, after the maximum 1.0790 reached earlier.

The euro fell after Reuters reported that the ECB may cut rates on deposits at its December meeting.

In September 2014, ECB lowered the deposit rate to -0.2%.

In October, ECB President, Mario Draghi, said that the bank may expand its stimulus program next month, to resist the continuing low levels of inflation in the single currency bloc.

At the beginning of the session euro strengthened as investors took profits after Friday's dollar rally.

Meanwhile, finance ministers of the Eurogroup must now negotiate in Brussels to discuss the state of the Eurozone economy, and the program of financial aid to Greece.

On the eve of the talks, the head of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Deysselblum, said that in recent weeks there has been a progress in relation to the Bank of Greece and reform programs. However, he also added that before Athens can receive its next tranche of € 2 billion, they would have to perform in the next two weeks a large amount of work.

Demand for the dollar persists after Friday positive US employment data increased the chances of raising interest rates by Fed in December.

US Labor Department reported on Friday that the US economy added 271 000 jobs last month against the expected 180 000, the highest since December.

The unemployment rate fell to 7.5-year low of 5.0%.

The unexpectedly strong performance underscored divergent forecasts for Fed policy and for other major central banks.

The USD index, which tracks the US currency against a basket of six major rivals, is traded at 99.26, slightly below Friday's high at 99.29, which was the peak in mid-April.

The USD/JPY is traded at 123.32, down from recent highs at 123.59, the peak from August 20.

EUR/JPY is traded at 132.35 after 133.18 earlier.

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