US Dollar amid the Fed interest rate cuts

After rising about 5% against a basket of major currencies by mid-year, the U.S. dollar lost almost all of its gains as interest rate futures began pricing in a 100-basis point cut from the Federal Reserve this year, nearly double June's forecast. This was driven in part by labor market data in July that showed signs of slowing, supported by reassurance from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in his recent speech in Jackson Hole hinting that interest rate cuts were coming. Therefore, the interest rate futures markets have fully identified the probability of a 25-basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve this month, with pricing around 40% for another 25-basis point cut.

 

Markets are likely to see some volatility in the next week or two. The remaining payroll and inflation data will ultimately determine whether the Fed cuts interest rates by 50 or 25 points on September 18, which would move the dollar's short-term direction. Economists in a separate Reuters poll expected data due on Friday to show 160,000 jobs added in August, a rebound from 114,000 jobs in July and a slight drop in the unemployment rate to 4.2%.

 

On the other hand, the euro was expected to fall by only about 0.5%, from about $1.11 to $1.10 by the end of November, according to the median forecast in a Reuters poll from August 30 to September 4 for 76 foreign exchange strategists. The dollar was expected to rise to $1.11 by the end of February and to $1.12 within a year, suggesting limited gains for the common currency. The latest positioning data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed that speculators flipped their bets to short selling on the dollar for the first time since February. The data showed that 45 of 66 people expected that the dollar was likely to remain at the same level or bounce. Twenty-one participants said it would weaken further.

 

Some economists believe that the recent weakening of the dollar was exaggerated. The economy is not in great shape, but apart from the unemployment rate, there are very few signs of recession. Most point to a slowdown, and the Fed is unlikely to cut interest rates aggressively in the event of a slowdown. Therefore, market pricing to cut interest rates by 100 basis points between now and the end of the year may be considered aggressive at the moment. At this point, it is unexpected to see this, given that there is good momentum behind the US economy. Additionally, in a separate Reuters poll of economists, more consistent in their forecasts for the year, they expected a 25-basis-point rate cut at each of the Fed's three remaining meetings this year.

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