EUR/CAD pushes higher for a second straight session on Tuesday, trading around 1.6160, as improving German business confidence lends support to the Euro while renewed trade tensions and softer crude oil prices weigh on the Canadian Dollar.
The latest German IFO survey offered a more encouraging signal for the Eurozone’s largest economy. The Business Climate Index climbed to 88.8 in August from a revised 86.7, comfortably exceeding expectations of 87.2. The improvement was broad-based, with both current conditions and expectations beating forecasts. In particular, the Expectations Index rose sharply to 89.1, suggesting German companies are becoming less pessimistic about the months ahead.
For the Euro, the figures provide another reason for investors to remain cautious about expecting an immediate shift toward easier monetary policy. However, BNY argues that the ECB still has room to remain patient. Inflation expectations appear increasingly anchored, while the Euro’s recent appreciation is itself tightening financial conditions, reducing some of the urgency for additional policy action.
The Canadian Dollar, meanwhile, is facing pressure from a renewed deterioration in US-Canada trade relations. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to retaliate against US tariffs on selected Canadian goods has revived concerns over a prolonged trade confrontation. With Canada heavily exposed to US demand, further escalation could become an increasingly important headwind for the CAD.
Oil is providing little protection. WTI remains near $84.20, with the market struggling to extend its recent gains despite continued uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. For the commodity-sensitive Canadian Dollar, the absence of stronger oil momentum removes an important source of support.
Middle East risks nevertheless remain significant. Washington is intensifying its economic campaign against Iran through secondary sanctions, while Tehran has threatened retaliation and expressed confidence that major trading partners, particularly China, will resist US pressure. Any renewed surge in crude prices could eventually provide some relief for the Canadian Dollar, but for now that support remains limited.
EUR/CAD’s near-term fundamental balance continues to lean higher. Improving European sentiment is supporting the Euro just as trade uncertainty and subdued oil momentum undermine the Canadian Dollar. Unless crude prices stage a meaningful recovery or US-Canada tensions ease, buyers may remain willing to defend EUR/CAD pullbacks.
Technical Analysis
EUR/CAD is showing a constructive bullish setup on the 4-hour chart, with the pair recovering strongly from the 1.6040–1.6050 demand region and forming a sequence of higher lows into the current 1.6150–1.6170 area. The recent advance has brought price back into an important resistance zone around 1.6145–1.6165, which previously acted as both support and resistance and therefore represents the immediate technical hurdle for buyers.
Price briefly pushed above this region toward 1.6173 before pulling back, suggesting some profit-taking at resistance. However, the broader recovery remains intact, and the current retreat appears more consistent with a retest of the breakout area rather than an outright bearish reversal. As long as EUR/CAD continues to hold above the 1.6140 region, buyers retain the advantage and another attempt higher remains likely.
A sustained 4-hour close above 1.6170 would provide stronger confirmation that resistance has been cleared and could accelerate the recovery. Beyond this point, there is relatively limited visible structural resistance until the previous swing region around 1.6220–1.6240, although the larger bullish objective remains the major supply zone around 1.6270–1.6280. A successful breakout there would represent a significant improvement in the broader market structure and potentially expose the 1.6300 psychological area.
On the downside, the 1.6140–1.6150 zone is now the first level buyers need to defend. A temporary pullback into this region would not materially damage the bullish setup and could offer a stronger base for continuation. However, a decisive move back below the zone would suggest that the breakout attempt has failed and could expose 1.6100–1.6110. More substantial support remains around 1.6040–1.6050, and a break beneath that area would invalidate the current bullish structure.
Overall, the technical picture favors buying the pullback while EUR/CAD remains above the reclaimed 1.6140 area. The pair has recovered aggressively from its August lows, and the latest price action suggests buyers are attempting to convert former resistance into support before targeting the next major upside zone.
TRADE RECOMMENDATION
BUY EUR/CAD
ENTRY PRICE: 1.6158
STOP LOSS: 1.6100
TAKE PROFIT: 1.6270