AUDUSD: The USD soared amid higher US bond yields, pending key dThe US dollar posted strong gains on the first trading day of the year, supported by rising US yields. Market participants are currently awaiting the release of upcoming US labor market data and European inflation data to determine the direction of central bank policy.
The dollar index, a measure that compares the U.S. currency with six other major currencies, rose 0.7%, its biggest single-day gain since October. This follows his 2% decline in 2023, ending his second consecutive year of increases. Last year's decline was due to market expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) would cut interest rates significantly given the strong economy. The dollar's rise was supported by a rise in U.S. Treasury yields, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rising 7.1 basis points to 3.931%, its biggest one-day gain in more than three weeks.
The dollar faced downward pressure last month after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled a potential rate cut in 2024, but Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.'s head of global currency strategy said: "The market is starting to realize that," Win Hsin said. "The US economy remains strong," he said, suggesting a "soft landing" could result in two or three precautionary cuts by 2024. However, the market is currently pricing in six rate cuts this year. As a result, the dollar could remain "under pressure and vulnerable" until those expectations materialize, Singh said.
