|

USD/CHF drops as US Dollar weakens on improved risk appetite

  • The US Dollar declines sharply after the government reopens, improving risk appetite.
  • Expectations for a December rate cut are fading, yet the US Dollar finds no support.
  • The Swiss Franc remains underpinned by low inflation and a stable domestic backdrop.

USD/CHF trades sharply lower on Thursday, hovering around 0.7910, down 0.80% for the day at the time of writing. The pair extends its seven-day losing streak, reaching a three-week low. The corrective move continues as broad-based weakness in the US Dollar (USD) weighs on the pair, following improved risk sentiment after the reopening of the US government.

The return to normal operations comes after US President Donald Trump signed the funding bill that ended 43 days of budget paralysis, the longest shutdown in recent US history. The removal of political risk immediately triggered renewed risk appetite, reducing the defensive appeal of the US Dollar.

Nevertheless, the reopening of the US government brings a period of uncertainty, as federal agencies must now catch up on the economic releases delayed during the shutdown. Several key indicators, including October’s jobs and inflation reports, may not be published, complicating the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) assessment of current economic conditions. As a result, the outlook for monetary policy remains uncertain.

Expectations for a Fed rate cut in December have softened recently, although this offers little support to the US Dollar amid a more constructive market mood. Fed officials have highlighted concerns about labor-market dynamics and inflation expectations, reinforcing the need for caution in the coming weeks.

In Switzerland, the Swiss Franc (CHF) remains structurally supported. Investors continue to favor the currency amid subdued inflation and stable growth prospects. Recent data showed that Swiss producer prices remain in deflation, a factor that keeps domestic price pressures low, as highlighted in recent economic indicators.

At the same time, markets are monitoring signals from the Swiss National Bank (SNB), whose recent comments suggested more confidence in the inflation outlook for the coming quarters, reducing the likelihood of a return to negative rates.

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 Canadian Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.48%-0.58%-0.25%0.17%-0.09%-0.07%-0.79%
EUR0.48%-0.11%0.22%0.65%0.39%0.41%-0.31%
GBP0.58%0.11%0.33%0.76%0.50%0.52%-0.21%
JPY0.25%-0.22%-0.33%0.40%0.16%0.15%-0.55%
CAD-0.17%-0.65%-0.76%-0.40%-0.24%-0.23%-0.96%
AUD0.09%-0.39%-0.50%-0.16%0.24%0.01%-0.69%
NZD0.07%-0.41%-0.52%-0.15%0.23%-0.01%-0.72%
CHF0.79%0.31%0.21%0.55%0.96%0.69%0.72%

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).

Author

Ghiles Guezout

Ghiles Guezout is a Market Analyst with a strong background in stock market investments, trading, and cryptocurrencies. He combines fundamental and technical analysis skills to identify market opportunities.

More from Ghiles Guezout
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s  irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest 

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.