|

USD: Support from geopolitical risk faltering – ING

The White House said yesterday it will decide whether to order direct strikes on Iran within two weeks, ING's FX analyst Francesco Pesole notes.

Oil prices and the Middle East remain the main driver for FX markets

"This slightly trims the perceived chances of both a rapid de-escalation and a rapid escalation in the Middle East conflict, leaving Brent prices supported but perhaps without enough thrust to test 80$/bll for now. It’s also been reported that Iran is attempting to fill up oil tanks quickly to export as much crude as possible, given the incumbent risks of logistical disruptions."

"The FX market has taken the somewhat lower probability of the US intervening in Iran already this weekend as an opportunity to re-enter USD short positions, especially against European currencies. This confirms that a constant flow of oil-positive, risk-negative geopolitical news is needed to keep the dollar supported in an environment where markets retain a strong bias towards strategic USD shorts."

"In macro news, today we’ll see the Philadelphia Fed survey and Conference Board Leading Index (from June and May, respectively), which are both expected to have improved modestly. The FOMC communication blackout period ended last night, but there are no speakers scheduled until Monday. Oil prices and the Middle East conflict remain the number one driver for FX markets. At this level, we think DXY may find some stabilisation barring major developments."

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 holds steady below 1.1800

EUR/USD moves sideways in a narrow channel below 1.1800 as the market volatility remains low ahead of the New Year holiday. On Tuesday, investors will pay close attention to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's December policy meeting.

GBP/USD retreats below 1.3500 as trading conditions remain thin

GBP/USD corrects lower after posting strong gains in the previous week and trades below 1.3500 on Monday. With the action in financial markets turning subdued following the Christmas holiday, however, the pair's losses remain limited.

Gold holds above $4,300 after profit taking kicked in

Gold retreats sharply from the record-peak it set at $4,550 and trades below $4,400, losing more than 3% on the day. Growing optimism about a Ukraine-Russia peace agreement and profit-taking ahead of the New Year holiday seem to be causing XAU/USD to stay under heavy bearish pressure.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP bulls regain strength

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple record roughly 3% gains on Monday, regaining strength mid-holiday season. Despite thin liquidity in the holiday season, BTC and major altcoins are regaining strength as US President Donald Trump pushes peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The technical outlook for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple gradually shifts bullish as selling pressure wanes.

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.

Crypto market outlook for 2026

Year 2025 was volatile, as crypto often is.  Among positive catalysts were favourable regulatory changes in the U.S., rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), adoption of AI and tokenization of Real-World-Assets (RWA).