- The DXY remains stuck around 106.00, looking for direction on Presidents’ Day.
- Fed funds futures price in 50 basis points of rate cuts for 2025 after weak Retail Sales data.
- Traders are eyeing global February PMI readings on Friday for potential divergence signals.
- US tariff concerns persist with auto levies expected to begin on April 2.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the US Dollar's performance against six major currencies, trades flat on Monday as traders monitor new geopolitical developments. With ongoing talks in Riyadh regarding a Ukraine-Russia peace deal, markets are assessing potential outcomes and their impact on risk sentiment. At the time of writing, the DXY remains stuck above the 106.00 range with investors awaiting key economic data later this week.
Daily digest market movers: US Dollar remains range-bound as markets digest mixed signals
- The US Dollar hovers near last week’s low with no clear directional momentum.
- Fed funds futures now price in 50 basis points of rate cuts for 2025 following weak US January Retail Sales data.
- Despite the Retail Sales miss, consumer spending remains supported by real wage growth, a solid labor market, and strong household balance sheets.
- Traders may not see much USD relief until Friday when global February PMI data could highlight divergence among economies.
- Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, and Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak on Monday.
- Last Friday, Fed President Lorie Logan cautioned that lower inflation does not automatically warrant further rate cuts.
- Markets continue to shrug off tariff concerns despite US President Donald Trump confirming auto levies will begin on April 2.
- Country-by-country reciprocal tariffs are also set to take effect around the same time, though implementation may be gradual.
DXY technical outlook: Key support in focus as bearish pressure builds
The US Dollar Index struggles to maintain momentum after losing the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), reinforcing a bearish outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in negative territory, confirming weakening momentum, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) suggests a steady bearish trend.
Immediate support is seen at the 100-day SMA near 106.30 with a break below this level likely to confirm a negative short-term outlook. Resistance remains at 106.80, followed by the 20-day SMA at 107.20.
Central banks FAQs
Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.
A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.
A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.
Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.
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