Forex: Euro Tumbles Against the Greenback On Positive US Trade Balance News

Economic news out of Europe was limited, as new car registrations, French CPI, and Italian industrial production were the only reports scheduled for release today.  Euro zone new car registrations rose 6.8 percent for the year in June, compared to a drop of 1.3 percent last month while in Western Europe, they rose to 4.5 percent from –1.3 percent.  Registrations were expected to jump since car sales accelerated 4.5 percent, a record for the month of June.  French CPI ascended, as expected, to 0.2 percent for the month of May and 1.7 percent for the year.  Increases in the services PMI caused a rise, but core CPI was held back by food, tobacco, and manufactured goods.  Additionally, Italian industrial production disappointed to the downside yet again.  The figure declined more than expected by 1.0 percent for the month of May and –2.1 percent for the year, compared to an outlook of –0.8 percent and –1.3 percent, respectively.  The disappointing numbers come as Italy fights to emerge from recession while continually being hounded by high oil prices that hurt consumer demand and corporate profits.  Currently, the euro trades at $1.2095 from a high of $1.2248 yesterday afternoon in New York.

European equities worked their way back up on easing concerns that profits for companies dependent on US sales may suffer, as the dollar rebounded from a three-week low against the euro.  The FTSE 100 and CAC 40 were both up 0.60 percent to 5,248.50 and 4,339.49, respectively, while the DAX made a 0.36 percent gain to 4,669.97.

Philips, Europe’s biggest maker of consumer electronics advanced 2.1 percent to 22.45 euros as the company makes 23 percent of its sales in the US.

The UK’s biggest mortgage lender, HBOS, climbed 1.89 percent to 891.00 pence after Goldman Sachs upgraded the company’s shares to "outperform", citing the prospect of interest rate cuts, solid interim results and robust loan growth underpinning UK banks.

The German 10-year bund yield rose 2 basis points to 3.234 on concerns that signs of faster inflation in Euro zone, such as French CPI, may reduce the chances of an interest-rate cut by the European Central Bank.