US Dollar Index Dodges Around 100.60, Eyes More Upside on Hawkish Powell

The US dollar index (DXY) is demonstrating casual fluctuations in a modest range of 100.55-100.66 after a robust comeback on Thursday. Since the likelihood of a major rate hike by the Federal Reserve increased, the DXY has exhibited a clear reversal after falling below the psychological support level of 100.00. (Fed). After declaring that investors should brace for a half-percent rate hike in May's monetary policy, Fed chair Jerome Powell's speech boosted the likelihood of a 50 bps interest rate hike.

Fed’s Powell Speech at IMF

The arrival of Fed’s Powell at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) produced a significant reversal in the DXY as Powell repeated that the tight labor market and increasing inflation are driving the Fed to move faster to the neutral rates than to the pace adopted in past raise cycles. Current pricing pressures are damaging the economy, making it difficult for the Federal Reserve System (Fed) to reduce the CPI (Consumer Price Index) down to the targeted 2 percent level.

Key Events Next Week

Durable Goods Orders, Consumer Confidence, Housing Price index, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics, Personal Consumption Expenditure Prices, Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) (CSI).

Eminent Issues on the Back Boiler

ECB President Christine Lagarde and BOE Governor Andrew Bailey are all scheduled to speak at upcoming events, including the Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the IMF summit.

Dollar Index Spot