US Dollar sees green as markets brace for PCE data – Crypto News – Crypto News
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US Dollar sees green as markets brace for PCE data – Crypto News

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  • US Dollar Index shows steady momentum, holds above 106.00.
  • Investors will eye bond auctions in the US as increased supply may fuel a hike in US yields.
  • Along with mid-tier reports, the week’s highlight will be March’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) is mildly edging higher on Monday, currently trading at 106.20. The Greenback’s strength is driven by robust domestic economic and persistent inflation pressures, which fuels a more hawkish stance by the Federal Reserve (Fed). Despite a quiet start to the week, the DXY continues its resilience, with signs pointing toward a possible retest of the November highs near 107.10.

The US economy demonstrates enduring strength with increased yields and robust growth, aiding the US Dollar’s steadiness. Some Fed officials started to consider a rate hike as they see no progress on inflation. As for now, markets are delaying the start of the easing cycle. This week, the US will release Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) and Durable Goods from March, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimations from Q1, and S&P PMIs from April, all of which will likely impact expectations on the next Fed decision.

Daily digest market movers: DXY holds steady as markets await drivers

  • A hawkish turn from the Fed, coupled with additional US Treasury supply, could fuel additional upward movements in the US Treasury bond yields. This scenario can drive further Greenback gains following market adjustments to the Fed’s actions.
  • According to market expectations, investors assign a 15% probability of a rate cut in the coming June meeting. This chance increases to 45% for a July rate cut, and even a September rate cut is only priced at 85% odds.
  • Upon examining the bond market, US Treasury bond yields are registering a slight decline. Specifically, the 2-year yield is seen at 4.97%, the 5-year yield at 4.64%, and the 10-year yield is slightly lower at 4.61%.

DXY technical analysis: DXY bulls struggle amid flat indicators

Despite the bullish momentum being halted, the DXY pair appears well-supported by its position above the 20,100 and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), suggesting ongoing bullish sentiment.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI), being flat in positive territory, leaves room for possible bullish incursions. The lack of any definitive inclination may indicate an ongoing struggle between bulls and bears, yet retaining a latent potential for bullish behavior. Coinciding with the neutral RSI, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) presenting flat green bars signals a sustained but flat buying momentum. Despite the occasional downturns, the prevalent green histogram highlights bulls’ resilience.

 

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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