|

USD: Gradual decline as growth slows – BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas strategists expect the US economy to grow above potential in 2026, with GDP at 2.9% and inflation at 3.0%, keeping the Federal Reserve on hold after three cuts in 2025. They project the Fed Funds target range at 3.5%-3.75% through 2026. Against this backdrop, strategists expect the Dollar to continue depreciating versus the Euro.

Fed on hold as Dollar softens

"The US economy is expected to grow above its potential pace in 2026, with an average annual growth rate of +2.9%, a yearly improvement (+2.1% in 2025)."

"The inflation overshooting of the target is set to continue (+3.0% in 2026) until at least the end of 2027 due to tariffs – although the impact of these appears to be less significant than expected – and the rise in oil prices."

"The rebalancing of risks surrounding the Fed's dual mandate and its emphasis on the ‘employment’ component has triggered a new cycle of rate cuts."

"The FOMC implemented three rate cuts (-75 bps cumulative) in total in 2025, and we expect the Fed Funds target range to be held steady at 3,5% - 3,75% throughout 2026."

"We expect the dollar to continue depreciating against the euro."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD tests 0.7000 as RBA hike looms amid risk-off mood

The Australian Dollar began the week on a lower note against the US Dollar, at around 0.7000, as depicted in the AUD/USD daily chart, as investors brace for the Reserve Bank of Australia monetary policy decision following optimistic US economic data.





USD/JPY: Japanese Yen loses ground to the Dollar despite US-Iran deal hopes

The Dollar fell against the Euro and the Pound on US-Iran diplomacy but not against the Yen, and USD/JPY reached 158.00, its highest since October 29. It dipped to just above 157.50 when the Dollar's slide elsewhere was at its deepest, then climbed to the high. It's trading just under 158.00.


Gold rises to near $3,950 as traders brace for US midterm election

Gold price rises to around $3,950 during the early Asian session on Tuesday. The precious metal rebounds as falling oil prices have tempered inflation worries. Traders will closely monitor US midterm elections later this week.

RBA expected to raise interest rate to 4.85%

The Reserve Bank of Australia will announce its monetary policy decision on Tuesday and is widely anticipated to raise the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 4.85% from 4.6%. If the RBA delivers as expected, it will be the fifth interest rate hike of 2026, and the OCR will hit an 18-year high.

Strong iPhone sales fortify Apple's Q4 result

A robust fourth-quarter for Apple's iPhone sales helped the tech titan beat Wall Street's consensus on Monday. Apple reported $57.58 billion in iPhone sales in Q4, beating the average analyst estimate by more than a billion. However, AAPL stock shed close to 4% afterhours despite the top and bottom line beat.

The 2% inflation target came from a throwaway remark. It now moves trillions
The Federal Reserve's 2% inflation goal grew out of an off-the-cuff remark by a New Zealand politician in 1988. Bond investors still price long-term US debt as if 2% holds, so a change in how the Fed measures inflation would move markets.