US Dollar holds gains higher after Fed's comments, US CPI
- DXY holds gains around 106.00 after Fed's Bullard comments.
- US CPI data showed inflation in October rising by 2.6%, in line with estimates.
- Core CPI rises by 3.3%, exceeding expectations and driving US yields higher.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the USD against a basket of six currencies, has surged higher on Wednesday in response to hawkish comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials. Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan expressed caution regarding the possibility of a December rate cut, dampening expectations that had been building in the market. The DXY has climbed above 106.00, reaching a fresh six-month high as a result of these comments but mildly retreated after Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from October, which didn’t show major surprises.
Daily digest market movers: US Dollar holds gains after US CPI
- The DXY is experiencing a mild corrective decline after the release of US CPI data for October.
- The DXY is hovering around 105.80, supported by a marginal retracement in US yields across the curve.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the headline CPI rose by 2.6% YoY last month, matching prior forecasts.
- Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased by 3.3% over the last 12 months.
- The Fed members are cooling down the market’s expectations of the central bank’s aggressive easing cycle, but investors are quite confident of another 25 bps cut in December.
DXY technical outlook: Bullish momentum continues for Greenback
Despite a slight pullback on Wednesday, technical indicators for the DXY Index remain bullish, suggesting a potential continuation of the uptrend. The RSI and MACD indicate continued positive momentum. While consolidation or a pullback is possible before a further advance, the overall technical outlook remains positive with resistance levels at 106.50, 107.00 and 107.30 and support levels at 105.50, 105.30 and 105.30.
That being said, the DXY's surge above 106.00, approaching its highest level since July, is supported by positive indicators. However, the indicators are approaching overbought territory, indicating a potential reversal or consolidation. Traders should monitor the index's behavior around these levels to assess the sustainability of the uptrend. A rejection at the overbought area could signal a pullback or a change in market sentiment, while a sustained break above these levels could extend the bullish momentum.
Inflation FAQs
Inflation measures the rise in the price of a representative basket of goods and services. Headline inflation is usually expressed as a percentage change on a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis. Core inflation excludes more volatile elements such as food and fuel which can fluctuate because of geopolitical and seasonal factors. Core inflation is the figure economists focus on and is the level targeted by central banks, which are mandated to keep inflation at a manageable level, usually around 2%.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices of a basket of goods and services over a period of time. It is usually expressed as a percentage change on a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis. Core CPI is the figure targeted by central banks as it excludes volatile food and fuel inputs. When Core CPI rises above 2% it usually results in higher interest rates and vice versa when it falls below 2%. Since higher interest rates are positive for a currency, higher inflation usually results in a stronger currency. The opposite is true when inflation falls.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, high inflation in a country pushes up the value of its currency and vice versa for lower inflation. This is because the central bank will normally raise interest rates to combat the higher inflation, which attract more global capital inflows from investors looking for a lucrative place to park their money.
Formerly, Gold was the asset investors turned to in times of high inflation because it preserved its value, and whilst investors will often still buy Gold for its safe-haven properties in times of extreme market turmoil, this is not the case most of the time. This is because when inflation is high, central banks will put up interest rates to combat it. Higher interest rates are negative for Gold because they increase the opportunity-cost of holding Gold vis-a-vis an interest-bearing asset or placing the money in a cash deposit account. On the flipside, lower inflation tends to be positive for Gold as it brings interest rates down, making the bright metal a more viable investment alternative.
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