COT Update: IMM currency futures

Euro getting crushed here, could be more to come.

Forex 4 minutes to read
Picture of John Hardy
John J. Hardy

Global Head of Macro Strategy

Summary:  The downdraft in the euro and European stocks suggest that global investors are second guessing their heavy reallocations into Europe after the EU caved to the Trump agenda in striking the trade deal at the weekend. The euro risks further broad weakness.


Euro getting crushed as the air comes out of the geopolitical narrative from earlier this year.
The euro sell-off yesterday turned into an out-and-out rout, as EURUSD was crushed back toward the lows of the range all in one go and EURJPY viciously rejected the latest rally extension as discussed in the chart below. Again, the sudden weakness is due to the EU cowing quickly to the Trump administration terms, a move that is angering national political leadership in France and Germany and elsewhere. This will have very interesting longer-term implications for politics on the national and EU level across Europe and nothing in the Trump era is permanent. For now, the ugly sell-off in European stocks yesterday combined with the euro downdraft speaks loudest. For the short-term this looks like a wakeup call as investors overbought the narrative that Europe would more boldly move ahead with a more domestic-oriented agenda to move away from the reliance on the US for security and economic growth through exports. The EURUSD area of note is 1.1500-1.1450 more than the range low of 1.1557 which has already been tested this morning, with the area toward 1.1200 (the prior approximate range high) at risk of opening up if the downside momentum stays intense here.

Chart: EURJPY
The extension higher in EURJPY on Friday was the last gasp for now for this EURJPY rally, as the rally was very smartly rejected yesterday on broad euro weakness, with further follow-through overnight. There is enormous room for a deep consolidation here without fully erasing the prior rally move, with a move below perhaps 165.00 needed to suggest that we are in a very long-term topping process and have been since 2024, which remains my technical base case despite this intense recent rally from below 162.00.

29_07_2025_EURJPY
Source: Saxo

Today we get the useless US June JOLTS survey (very low response rate, heavy revisions) and the Conference Board US Consumer Confidence survey, which is a bit more interesting for the national mood. The important Expectations component of that survey settled in June near the lows of the range since 2013 after a one-off wipeout in April around Trump’s Liberation Day announcements that reversed in May. The Present Situation component of the confidence survey is in a local downtrend but still relatively elevated in the historic range. The market may be jolted on the JOLTS survey as it was last month on the sudden strength after a string of weaker numbers, but it is a mere distraction ahead of the July US ADP payrolls number tomorrow (which in turn was very misleading last month relative to the strong-ish Nonfarm Payrolls change and 0.2% drop in the Unemployment Rate). The NFP change number has been beyond misleading and yet market participants (and algorithms?) continue to react strongly to it… The most recent QECW (an exhaustive survey that comes out with a significant delay relative to the monthly BLS employment data) showed that 2024 payrolls saw the largest overestimation in 15 years

And I’m not alone in fretting about the quality of US data. A recent Reuters article discusses the poor quality of US economic data, in part due to Trump administration disruptions to the data-collecting bureaucracy.

Note as well that we have the June and Q2 CPI figures up from Australia tonight, a key input ahead of the August 12 RBA meeting (more than 90% priced for a 25-bp cut). As I discussed in my Friday week-ahead piece, I see the Bank of Japan as far more likely to deliver a surprise than the FOMC.

FX Board of G10 and CNH trend evolution and strength.
Note: If unfamiliar with the FX board, please see a video tutorial for understanding and using the FX Board.

With the hard reversal, the trend readings for the Euro are reversing about as hard as I have ever seen on the FX Board (-3.2 on the two-day momentum and the day is young….). The US dollar and Japanese yen look somewhat like fellow travelers here, just as they were against the euro when the latter was strong.

29_07_2025_FXBoard_Main
Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Table: NEW FX Board Trend Scoreboard for individual pairs.
The weak USD trends are falling like flies, with USDCAD set to flip positive today if the rally holds, and EURUSD will likely flip negative tomorrow on hold below the range lows. Note EURAUD set to flip to negative today as well if the price action holds.

29_07_2025_FXBoard_Individuals
Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group
This content is marketing material and should not be regarded as investment advice. Trading financial instruments carries risks and historic performance is not a guarantee of future results.
The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options..

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Q3 Investor Outlook: Beyond American shores – why diversification is your strongest ally

    Quarterly Outlook

    Q3 Investor Outlook: Beyond American shores – why diversification is your strongest ally

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

  • Q3 Macro Outlook: Less chaos, and hopefully a bit more clarity

    Quarterly Outlook

    Q3 Macro Outlook: Less chaos, and hopefully a bit more clarity

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    After the chaos of Q2, the quarter ahead should get a bit more clarity on how Trump 2.0 is impacting...
  • Equity outlook: The high cost of global fragmentation for US portfolios

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity outlook: The high cost of global fragmentation for US portfolios

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Commodity Outlook: Commodities rally despite global uncertainty

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Commodities rally despite global uncertainty

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • Upending the global order at blinding speed

    Quarterly Outlook

    Upending the global order at blinding speed

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    We are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime shredding of the global order. As the new order takes shape, ...
  • Asset allocation outlook: From Magnificent 7 to Magnificent 2,645—diversification matters, now more than ever

    Quarterly Outlook

    Asset allocation outlook: From Magnificent 7 to Magnificent 2,645—diversification matters, now more than ever

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

  • Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Quarterly Outlook

    China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

None of the information provided on this website constitutes an offer, solicitation, or endorsement to buy or sell any financial instrument, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd. (Saxo) and the Saxo Bank Group provides execution-only services, with all trades and investments based on self-directed decisions. Analysis, research, and educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice nor a recommendation. Access and use of this website is subject to: (i) the Terms of Use; (ii) the full Disclaimer; (iii) the Risk Warning; and (iv) any other notice or terms applying to Saxo’s news and research.

Saxo’s content may reflect the personal views of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Mentions of specific financial products are for illustrative purposes only and may serve to clarify financial literacy topics. Content classified as investment research is marketing material and does not meet legal requirements for independent research.

Before making any investment decisions, you should assess your own financial situation, needs, and objectives, and consider seeking independent professional advice. Saxo does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages resulting from the use of this information.

Please refer to our full disclaimer for more details. Past Performance is not indicative of future results.

Saxo
40 Bank Street, 26th floor
E14 5DA
London
United Kingdom

Contact Saxo

Select region

United Kingdom
United Kingdom

Trade Responsibly
All trading carries risk. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more
Additional Key Information Documents are available in our trading platform.

Saxo is a registered Trading Name of Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd (‘Saxo’). Saxo is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 551422. Registered address: 26th Floor, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DA. Company number 7413871. Registered in England & Wales.

This website, including the information and materials contained in it, are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in the United States, Belgium or any other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.

It is important that you understand that with investments, your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. It is your responsibility to ensure that you make an informed decision about whether or not to invest with us. If you are still unsure if investing is right for you, please seek independent advice. Saxo assumes no liability for any loss sustained from trading in accordance with a recommendation.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

©   since 1992