USD/CHF gains momentum above 0.9150 as Trump's tariff war escalates
- USD/CHF extends its upside to around 0.9165 in Monday’s early European session.
- USD strengthens on Trump's tariffs.
- Swiss Real Retail Sales rose by 2.6% YoY in December vs. 0.6% expected.
The USD/CHF pair extends the rally to near 0.9165 during the early European trading hours on Monday. The US Dollar (USD) jumps after US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs kicked off a trade war.
The Greenback gains up to 0.60% against the Swiss franc (CHF), reaching a peak not seen since May 2024. The move comes after Trump put 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada on Saturday, as well as a fresh 10% levy on Chinese products.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that the Chinese government is preparing an opening bid to try to head off greater tariff increases and technology restrictions from the Trump administration, indicating that China is keen to begin trade discussions. Investors will closely monitor the development surrounding trade tariff policies. Any sign of a renewed trade war between the US and trading partners could boost the US Dollar against its rivals.
Data released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported on Friday showed that the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index rose 2.6% YoY in December versus 2.4% in November. This figure came in line with the market consensus. Meanwhile, the core PCE Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, climbed 2.8% YoY in December, matching November's reading and the estimation.
This US inflation report suggested that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) would probably be in no hurry to resume cutting interest rates, supporting the USD. Investors pared expectations of rate reductions from the Fed, pricing in 54% odds of two cuts this year and 44% for just one in the wake of the tariff news.
On the Swiss front, the country’s Real Retail Sales rose by 2.6% YoY in December versus 1.4% (revised from 0.8%) prior, according to the Federal Statistical Office on Friday. This reading came in hotter than the 0.6% expected.
Swiss Franc FAQs
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.
Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate.
As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect.
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