EUR/USD outlook: The dollar’s rate-cut reckoning

According to reports, the dollar’s rate-cut reckoning is now the defining force in EUR/USD, with traders pushing expectations for a December Federal Reserve cut to more than 85%, up sharply from 39% just a week earlier. What began as a quiet Thanksgiving week has turned into the dollar’s steepest weekly decline in four months, reshaping the balance of power across major currency pairs.

EUR/USD is rising not because the euro has rediscovered its strength, but because the dollar is losing the policy advantage it has enjoyed for most of the year. As markets confront the prospect of a softer Fed and political pressure on the institution intensifies, the pair is becoming a barometer for how much credibility the central bank is willing to risk in the months ahead.

What’s driving EUR/USD right now?

The Fed sits squarely at the centre of the story. Rate expectations have shifted at a pace not seen since early summer, with futures markets now assuming a December cut as the most likely outcome. Reuters reported a series of softer labour market indicators, dovish public remarks from key policymakers, and increased speculation around Kevin Hassett’s potential nomination as the next Fed Chair have accelerated the move. Thin U.S. liquidity over the Thanksgiving holiday added fuel, allowing even modest data points to push the dollar lower.

This recalibration has allowed EUR/USD to climb despite Europe’s mixed economic backdrop. The dollar index, still hovering near 99.72, is heading for its worst weekly performance since late July. 

The euro briefly touched a 1½-week high of $1.1613 before easing, supported more by dollar fatigue than by renewed optimism in the eurozone. Even so, the narrowing of U.S.–European rate differentials has created space for euro bulls to test higher levels, something that looked unlikely just two weeks ago.

Why the dollar is facing its own reckoning

Political pressure is becoming an increasingly prominent part of the narrative. President Donald Trump has renewed calls for deeper rate cuts, arguing that the Fed must “move quickly” to support economic momentum. 

The possibility that Kevin Hassett - a prominent advocate of looser policy - could become the next Fed Chair has forced traders to reassess the institution’s independence and long-term trajectory. Markets are now questioning whether December’s cut is simply another precaution or the start of a strategically driven easing cycle.

At the macro level, the dollar’s credibility premium is also being tested. Barclays’ global head of FX strategy, Themos Fiotakis, argued that Europe had benefited in recent months from supportive rate differentials and improving sentiment, but warned that these assumptions are now under reassessment. The euro’s valuation remains high by several metrics, while the U.S. economy continues to show pockets of resilience, particularly in services. The dollar’s decline, therefore, reflects less a loss of faith and more a repricing of what the next policymaking regime might look like.

What this means for EUR/USD traders

Positioning in EUR/USD has turned decisively constructive, according to analysts. With holiday-thinned liquidity amplifying moves, traders have been quick to unwind long-USD positions accumulated during the autumn rally. The shift has also been visible in cross-asset markets: U.S. 10-year Treasury yields briefly dipped below 4% before rebounding, while German bunds held steady, creating a more supportive environment for the euro.

For corporates, the recalibration matters. European exporters face a marginally stronger currency, which could tighten their margins if the trend persists, while importers benefit from reduced dollar-denominated costs. For investors, the EUR/USD is becoming a call on relative credibility: whether the Fed’s pivot is justified by economic factors or shaped by politics - and whether the European Central Bank can maintain stability as global conditions change.

The geopolitical backdrop adds another layer, analysts added. Markets are tracking every incremental update on Ukraine peace negotiations, with Vladimir Putin signalling that draft proposals could form the basis of future talks. While analysts caution against expecting a rapid “peace premium”, even the possibility of de-escalation has helped cap dollar demand against the euro.

Expert outlook

In the near term, market watchers stated the EUR/USD will remain closely tied to U.S. policy signals. A confirmed December rate cut, reinforced by dovish messaging, could send the pair back toward 1.17. But any upside surprise in U.S. labour or inflation data would temper enthusiasm and reintroduce volatility, particularly for leveraged positions - something traders often evaluate beforehand using the Deriv trading calculator to manage risk.

Medium-term dynamics remain more uncertain. The eurozone continues to wrestle with uneven growth and limited fiscal momentum, which could limit the sustainability of any rally built solely on dollar weakness. At the same time, bond markets remain a crucial indicator: if the U.S. 10-year yield breaks back above 4.1%, the dollar could regain some cyclically driven strength, according to experts. 

The next trigger may come from a combination of Fed rhetoric, incoming U.S. data, and developments in Eastern Europe, all of which have the potential to redirect EUR/USD in the weeks ahead.

EUR/USD technical insights

At the start of writing, EUR/USD is trading near 1.1585, moving sideways within a well-defined range. The pair continues to face overhead pressure from the 1.1650 resistance level, where traders may look for profit-taking or renewed buying if the price can break convincingly above it. On the downside, the first key support level sits at 1.1565, followed by a stronger base at 1.1448. A break below either level is likely to trigger sell liquidations and deeper downside momentum.

The price remains contained within the Bollinger Bands, indicating a market lacking strong directional conviction. This consolidative structure suggests EUR/USD may continue chopping within the range unless a macro catalyst - such as ECB or Fed commentary - forces a breakout.

The RSI is nearly flat, sitting around 44, close to the midline and signalling neutral momentum. Neither bulls nor bears currently dominate, reinforcing the idea that the pair is in a holding pattern while awaiting its next decisive move.

Key takeaway

EUR/USD is climbing because the dollar is undergoing a policy reckoning shaped by rapid shifts in rate expectations and rising political influence. The euro may not have a strong domestic story, but the repricing of U.S. monetary credibility has given it new momentum. The next leg depends on the Fed's decision in December, U.S. Treasury yields, and geopolitical developments. Traders on Deriv MT5 will closely watch those catalysts as they adjust their strategies.