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.
The U.S. dollar moved sharply higher against the world’s major currencies in 2014 and 2015 — creating a strong dollar environment in the truest sense of the term. US investors experienced the results of a stronger dollar in the form of tepid economic and profit growth, and muted inflation.
Despite persistent media headlines to the contrary, the currency backdrop has been more nuanced since early 2016. Indeed, the U.S. dollar, as measured by the Bloomberg Dollar Index, traded in negative territory from mid-February through mid-November 2016, not reaching positive territory until after the November US elections.
The “US Dollar hit dual resistance at the same time that the Euro hit dual support. And currently the Dollar is attempting to break a key rising support trend line. This comes at the same time that the Euro is attempting to breakout over key downtrend price resistance,” according to ETF Daily News.
For more information on the USD, visit our U.S. dollar category.