The dollar has been a dud among major currencies this year, a scenario that has been limiting upside for the PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSEArca: UUP). However, some currency market observers believe the greenback is poised to shake off its rust and head higher.
UUP tracks the price movement of the U.S. dollar against a basket of currencies, including the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona and Swiss franc. Other currencies, including the Australian dollar, yen and Canadian dollar have recently been gaining momentum against the greenback.
Expectations that the Federal Reserve will boost interest rates multiple times this year are prompting some investors to speculate the dollar has more upside ahead of it.
Heading into 2017, many bond market participants were betting the Fed would raise interest rates three times, but some market commentators believe two is the appropriate number of rate hikes this year. The Fed boosted rates in March for the first time this year and the third time in 15 months, but a dovish tone following the March meeting muted the dollar’s reaction.