|

USD: Risk of facing deeper Fed rate cuts – BBH

US Dollar (USD) is firmer across the board, though it continues to trade within this month’s narrow range. Nevertheless, political interference with the Fed’s independence and a dovish Fed will continue to undermine USD , BBH's FX analysts report.

Cook might return to work while legal proceedings are ongoing

"Fed Governor Lisa Cook's exit from the Fed could ultimately give President Donald Trump greater opportunity to tighten his grip on the central bank by appointing a replacement aligned with his dovish monetary policy agenda. In the meantime, Cook is seeking court approval for her continued right to carry on in her role at the Fed. If it succeeds, she could return to work while legal proceedings are ongoing."

"US consumers are more pessimistic about future job availability. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence labor differential index (jobs plentiful minus jobs hard to get) dropped 1.3 points to 9.7 in August, the lowest since February 2021 and indicative of a rapid rise in the unemployment rate. Indeed, Fed Chair Jay Powell warned last week that downside risks to employment are rising."

"Risk is the Fed delivers deeper rate cuts than the markets expect. Fed funds futures price-in nearly 90% odds of a 25bps cut at the next September 17 meeting and a total of 50bps of easing by year-end."

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:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs, trades below $4,500

Gold retreats after setting a new record-high above $4,520 earlier in the day and trades in a tight range below $4,500 as trading volumes thin out ahead of the Christmas break. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Bitcoin slips below $87,000 as ETF outflows intensify, whale participation declines

Bitcoin price continues to trade around $86,770 on Wednesday, after failing to break above the $90,000 resistance. US-listed spot ETFs record an outflow of $188.64 million on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Avalanche struggles near $12 as Grayscale files updated form for ETF

Avalanche trades close to $12 by press time on Wednesday, extending the nearly 2% drop from the previous day. Grayscale filed an updated form to convert its Avalanche-focused Trust into an ETF with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.