The currency pair ended the ECB's March policy event sharply higher despite the central bank delivering a confident set of monetary policy measures aimed at boosting Eurozone economic growth.
The euro initially fell sharply on the news the ECB added a further €20 billion to the monthly QE budget along with lowering rates, introducing a second version of TLRTOs and allowing corporate debt to be used as part of its portfolio of investments.
The move lower was oiled by the announcement of a 5 basis point cut to the refinancing rate and a 10 basis point cut to the deposit rate. The ECB is now effectively paying banks to borrow money from them, in the hope that they will lend the money onwards.
There was also news that non-financial entities with investment grade debt would be eligible for inclusion in the ECB's easing programme.
The euro to dollar rate hit a low at 1.0822.
Mario Draghi emphasized the point that the ECB were unlikely to reduce rates any further into negative territory effectively putting a bottom on interest rates at their current level.
He said that the bank had considered using a tiered rate system like that of the Bank of Japan, in order to lessen the negative impact on banks, however, in the end they decided not to.
The reason being was tiering was not compatible with the variety and complexity of the Eurozone's banking industry. No two banks are the same argued Draghi.
The euro rose rapidly following these comments, to reach highs of 1.1218, the exchange rate has pulled back a little on Friday but the vast majority of the gains are being held with the rate quoted at around 1.1114.
Citi do concede that positioning played a big part in the euro's recovery, as it did in December, whereby traders betting heavily against the euro are forced to close their negative bets as the market moves agressively against them.
But, Citi sense a fundamental overreaction to Draghi's comments, "markets ignore the qualifying comment that the ‘no further rate cut’ stance could change in light of new information and low rates will continue well after the asset purchase program ends."
Markets also seem to be downplaying the significance of the 4 new TLTROs in adding stability to the banking system via more liquidity provisions and hence addressing risk premia concerns on financials.
"The fact that greater asset purchases will ultimately help to weaken EUR through the flow channel though it may require President Dragi to clarify the breakdown of QE," say Citi.
Citi warn that further short-covering to 1.13 is now a distinct possibility as the move higher could have further to run.
Yet, "there is no denying that the ECB has over-delivered on the stimulus front and the medium term outlook is now a firm ‘sell on rallies’ to levels approaching 1.1300."
However, the timing of the move has been pushed back from September 2016 to March 2017.
Citi economists also expect further enhancements to the TLTROs (the ECB’s longer term lending facilities to banks to add liquidity) by cutting the ECB’s marginal lending rate to banks as well as a further six-month extension to its asset purchases program likely to be announced at the June 2 meeting.