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US Dollar pauses as investors dissect recent comments from Federal Reserve officials. Markets appear skeptical about the Fed’s guidance and continue to anticipate potential cuts in September. Fed officials’ cautious remarks limit downside in the US Dollar.
On Wednesday, the US Dollar as measured by the DXY Index (DXY) remained relatively unchanged around the 105.20 mark as investors parsed words from key Fed officials on a quiet Wednesday. Following last week’s 0.50% gain, the index is tallying a three-day losing streak.
The US economic outlook is starting to show some signs of weakness. If data continues to fuel hopes of a September interest rate cut, the USD may struggle.
The US Dollar trades flat as markets wrestle with Fed remarks. Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester voiced a preference for a “longer run of good-looking inflation data” before making a firm decision.
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari expressed that waiting until December to cut interest rates could be a “reasonable prediction.” Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker proposed the likelihood of the Fed keeping rates steady for longer than the market currently anticipates.
On a more dovish note, Fed Governor Adriana Kugler suggested that if economic conditions continue to show improvements, the Fed could consider additional rate reductions. Her colleague, Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin, similarly indicated his readiness to back a rate cut but would need more data before doing so.
According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, the probability of lower interest rates by the upcoming meeting on September 18 now stands at about 67%, which clashes with Fed guidance that hinted at only one cut in 2024.
Technically; the dollar’s omentum falters, but bullish sentiment persists. Technical indicators displayed flat momentum for Wednesday’s session, yet the broader outlook remains optimistic. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) maintains above 50, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) still showcasing green bars that point toward bullish sentiment.
Additionally, the DXY continues to hold above its 20, 100 and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMA), which, coupled with investors’ apparent pause, presents a persistent bullish outlook for the US Dollar. However, these indicators suggest that the previous week’s momentum may be starting to wane, contributing to a consolidation phase in the DXY.
