EUR/USD stays under 1.1850, near its nine-day EMA, as RSI 53 hints mild upside consolidation

by VT Markets
/
Feb 17, 2026

EUR/USD fell for a second session and traded near 1.1840 in early European hours on Tuesday. The 14-day RSI was 53, which points to a neutral reading with mild upside bias.

On the daily chart, the pair stayed above the rising 50-day EMA, while the nine-day EMA was flat above price. The nine-day EMA remained above the 50-day EMA, supporting the near-term setup.

Key Resistance And Potential Breakout

Resistance was at 1.1850 and the nine-day EMA at 1.1856. A move above this area could open the way to 1.2082, the highest level since June 2021.

If the pair cannot break above the short-term barrier, it may remain rangebound. It could then slip towards the 50-day EMA at 1.1773 and later to 1.1578, the two-month low set on 19 January.

The technical analysis was produced with assistance from an AI tool.

We are seeing the EUR/USD pair consolidate around the 1.0750 level, holding just below its nine-day EMA which is acting as a barrier. This price action is creating a pivotal moment, with the neutral Relative Strength Index suggesting the market is awaiting a new catalyst. The current setup mirrors a similar period of indecision we observed back in late 2025 before a significant trend emerged.

Macro Backdrop And Trading Implications

Fundamentally, recent data favors a stronger dollar, as US inflation in January came in unexpectedly high at 3.1%, while the Eurozone’s figure cooled to 2.8%. Consequently, Federal Reserve commentary has pushed back against early rate cuts, creating a policy divergence with the more cautious European Central Bank. This macroeconomic pressure suggests the path of least resistance for the pair may be downwards.

For traders anticipating a breakdown, buying put options with strike prices below the 50-day EMA at 1.0680 is a direct strategy. This allows for profiting from a potential slide towards the two-month lows near 1.0520 if the pair fails to regain momentum. Historically, such technical failures, when combined with diverging central bank policy, have preceded sharp declines.

Conversely, if the pair manages a decisive close above the immediate 1.0760 resistance, it would signal that the bearish pressure is fading. In this event, traders could respond by purchasing call options to target the higher resistance level around 1.0920. This move would likely be driven by stronger-than-expected European economic data, catching the market off guard.

Given the current tight range and neutral indicators, volatility is likely to expand soon, but the direction is uncertain. A long straddle, which involves buying both a call and a put option at the current price, is a viable strategy to profit from a large price swing in either direction. This position capitalizes on the breakout itself rather than betting on its direction.

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