US Dollar sees some light ahead of the weekend

US Dollar is gaining strength after Fed decision volatility.
New York Fed's Nowcast model predicts robust economic growth in third and fourth quarters.
Fed expects financial conditions to remain loose, supporting the economy.

The US economy is experiencing a moderate slowdown, but indicators suggest that economic activity remains robust overall. The Federal Reserve (Fed) has indicated that the pace of its interest rate increases will be determined by economic data.

The upcoming US election will have wide ranging impacts across financial markets, but for now the US Dollar is holding its ground. However, dovish bets on the Fed remain steady and might limit the USD.

Daily digest market movers: US Dollar rises ahead of the weekend on market optimism

Market optimism is driving the US Dollar higher ahead of the weekend.
The market is expecting robust growth in Q3, with the New York Fed's Nowcast model tracking Q3 growth at 2.6% SAAR and Q4 growth at 2.2% SAAR.
Fed is likely pleased that the market is helping to keep financial conditions loose, which should help the economy avoid a hard landing.
Despite the Fed's efforts to push back against market easing expectations, they have intensified.
After initially lowering its expectations following the decision, the market is now factoring in an additional 75 basis points of rate cuts by the end of the year.
Even more unexpected is that the market anticipates close to 250 basis points of further cuts over the next year, which would bring the fed funds rate significantly below the neutral level.

DXY technical outlook: DXY bullish momentum waning, technicals remain bearish

The DXY index has gained some upside momentum, but technical indicators remain bearish.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 40, near oversold conditions, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is printing decreasing green bars, implying weak buying pressure.

These indicators suggest that bears are in control and that the index is likely to continue its downtrend. Supports: 100.50, 100.30, and 100.00Resistances: 101.00, 101.30, and 101.60

Central banks FAQs

What does a central bank do?

Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.

What does a central bank do when inflation undershoots or overshoots its projected target?

A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.

Who decides on monetary policy and interest rates?

A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.

Is there a president or head of a central bank?

Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.

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