|

USD/CHF steady as Fed rate-cut expectations, Swiss data weigh

  • Fed rate-cut expectations hold near 85%, keeping the US Dollar under pressure.
  • Weekly jobless claims remain resilient, but broader labor-market signals continue to soften gradually.
  • Thin liquidity due to Thanksgiving and Swiss data in focus ahead of Q3 GDP and KOF Leading Indicator.

USD/CHF trades around 0.8050 on Thursday at the time of writing, virtually inchandeg for the day. The pair nevertheless remains under pressure as the US Dollar (USD) weakens broadly, weighed down by growing market conviction that the Federal Reserve (Fed) is on track to deliver another rate cut next month.

According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets now assign roughly an 85% chance to a 25-basis-point cut at the December meeting. This trend continues despite the publication of generally solid US data. Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending November 22 rose to 216,000, below the expected 225,000, confirming a degree of labor-market resilience. At the same time, Continuing Claims increased slightly from 1.95 million to 1.96 million, signaling a gradual cooling that markets have already factored in.

Durable Goods Orders released on Wednesday also surprised to the upside, but this did little to alter the dominant perception, particularly amid speculation that Kevin Hassett, widely viewed as dovish, could replace Jerome Powell as Fed Chair after his term ends in May.

Market liquidity is especially thin on Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States (US), limiting volatility across US assets and reinforcing policy-expectation-driven moves. The US Dollar Index (DXY) holds steady near 99.57 at the time of writing, unable to benefit from the stronger data.

Conversely, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) is broadly expected to maintain its policy rate at 0.00% potentially through 2027, according to several analysts. A policy divergence that further supports downward pressure on USD/CHF.

In Switzerland, traders are now awaiting two key data releases on Friday: third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the KOF Leading Indicator, both of which may provide additional insight into the country’s economic trajectory. Until then, USD/CHF continues to trade in an environment structurally unfavorable to the US Dollar, dominated by Fed rate-cut expectations.

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 Swiss Franc.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.00%-0.01%-0.06%-0.08%-0.20%-0.52%0.05%
EUR0.00%-0.00%-0.05%-0.07%-0.20%-0.51%0.07%
GBP0.00%0.00%-0.06%-0.07%-0.20%-0.51%0.07%
JPY0.06%0.05%0.06%-0.02%-0.13%-0.48%0.14%
CAD0.08%0.07%0.07%0.02%-0.10%-0.44%0.16%
AUD0.20%0.20%0.20%0.13%0.10%-0.32%0.27%
NZD0.52%0.51%0.51%0.48%0.44%0.32%0.59%
CHF-0.05%-0.07%-0.07%-0.14%-0.16%-0.27%-0.59%

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

GBP/USD remains offered below 1.3600

GBP/USD resumes its decline, reversing Tuesday’s bullish attempt and breaking below 1.3600 the figure on Wednesday. Cable’s marked pullback follows a firm advance in the Greenback as investors continue to assess latest US data as well as the geopolitical landscape.

EUR/USD bounces off lows, retests 1.1650

EUR/USD now manages to regain some balance, trimming earlier losses and reclaiming the mid-1.1600s in the latter part of Wednesday’s NA session. The pair’s retracement comes on the back of a solid performance of the US Dollar, as market participants gear up for upcoming key US data releases and Chair Warsh’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium.

Gold puts $4,600 to the test amid USD gains

Gold now faces some renewed downside pressure and seems to challenge the key $4,600 mark per troy ounce on Wednesday. That said, the yellow metal’s correction comes after three daily upticks in a row, fading at the same time the recent move to fresh tops around $4,700. The stronger US Dollar and a decent rebound in US Treasury yields across the curve continue to weigh on bullion.

Bitcoin recovery stalls near $80,000 as ETF inflows mount, whale demand strengthens

Bitcoin price is trading in the green on Wednesday, holding above $78,000 while struggling to extend its recovery above the $80,000 mark. Institutional demand is strengthening, with steady inflows and BlackRock’s tax-deferred Bitcoin-to-ETF swap volume reaching $5 billion.

Nvidia: How will the company perform as its switches from a chip maker to an AI finance house?

The main event for markets this week takes place this evening, after US markets close. Nvidia, the AI giant, will report results for last quarter. Another monster report is expected. Revenues could come in above $92bn, and earnings per share could come in at $2.09.

Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole dilemma: Say too much, too little, or just enough

Kevin Warsh is preparing to deliver his first Jackson Hole speech as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair on Friday, and expectations extend well beyond whether interest rates will be raised or left unchanged in September.