USD/CHF weakens as US Dollar struggles with political, institutional uncertainty
|- The US Dollar weakens against the Swiss Franc amid a renewed risk-off mood.
- Uncertainty surrounding US trade policy and concerns over the independence of the Fed weigh on the USD.
- The decision to keep US interest rates unchanged reinforces a cautious bias in markets.
USD/CHF trades around 0.7660 on Thursday at the time of writing, down 0.40% on the day, under pressure from a broadly weaker US Dollar (USD) and increased demand for safe-haven currencies. The Swiss Franc (CHF) benefits from a market environment marked by political uncertainty in the United States (US), persistent geopolitical tensions, and growing questions over the credibility of US institutions.
The US currency remains weighed down by an unpredictable trade policy, as well as debates surrounding the independence of the Federal Reserve (Fed). At its latest meeting, the US central bank decided to leave the Federal Funds Rate unchanged in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the current stance of monetary policy is considered appropriate to achieve the goals of maximum employment and price stability, a message that nonetheless failed to restore investor confidence in the Greenback.
Concerns over a new US budget impasse are also undermining the US Dollar. The lack of visibility regarding funding for certain federal agencies has revived worries about economic governance in the country, fueling flows into safe-haven assets. In this context, the Swiss Franc fully benefits from its defensive status, especially as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East reinforce investor caution.
According to analysts at MUFG, the loss of confidence in US economic policymaking has revived fears of long-term currency debasement, supporting demand for the Swiss Franc as a store of value. The bank notes that this dynamic could increase pressure on the Swiss National Bank (SNB) if the CHF continues to appreciate. For its part, BNY believes the SNB is likely to adopt a cautious approach and wait for new inflation projections before considering any policy adjustment, while ruling out a return to negative rates for now.
Overall, the combination of a US Dollar weakened by political and institutional uncertainty and a Swiss Franc supported by safe-haven flows keeps USD/CHF under pressure in the near term, despite the relatively neutral tone adopted by the US central bank.
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Australian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.09% | 0.00% | -0.26% | -0.33% | 0.06% | -0.21% | -0.37% | |
| EUR | 0.09% | 0.08% | -0.22% | -0.25% | 0.15% | -0.12% | -0.27% | |
| GBP | -0.01% | -0.08% | -0.30% | -0.34% | 0.03% | -0.24% | -0.37% | |
| JPY | 0.26% | 0.22% | 0.30% | -0.08% | 0.32% | 0.03% | -0.11% | |
| CAD | 0.33% | 0.25% | 0.34% | 0.08% | 0.40% | 0.12% | -0.03% | |
| AUD | -0.06% | -0.15% | -0.03% | -0.32% | -0.40% | -0.27% | -0.42% | |
| NZD | 0.21% | 0.12% | 0.24% | -0.03% | -0.12% | 0.27% | -0.15% | |
| CHF | 0.37% | 0.27% | 0.37% | 0.11% | 0.03% | 0.42% | 0.15% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.