USDCAD: The US dollar faces a weekly decline as inflation easesThe US dollar faces its biggest weekly decline in months against the euro, yen and franc. This comes after investors began selling in anticipation of a near 100 basis point interest rate cut in the United States expected next year.
By Friday, the dollar had fallen 1.6% from a week earlier, trading at $1.0854 against the euro, its steepest decline since mid-July. For the week, it fell 1.6% to CHF 0.8882, and against the yen it fell 0.6% to CHF 150.53.
Oil prices hit a four-month low on Thursday, and Walmart (NYSE:WMT) also announced price cuts, adding to deflationary pressures. This week's data showed U.S. consumer prices stabilizing, convincing investors that inflation is falling and the days of rising interest rates are over.
Weak US economic data released on Thursday also supported this view. Futures markets are currently pricing in a 98 basis point (bp) rate cut by the Federal Reserve next year, up from 73 basis points a week ago.
Peter Dragicevic, strategist at cross-border payment company Copay, comments on the situation. He said the degree of mitigation being considered looked positive, but the direction was correct. He added that the momentum of US inflation is changing and the negative effects of past monetary tightening are beginning to show.
With the Fed's next easing cycle looming, Dragicevic expects the US dollar to weaken gradually over the next few quarters as US yields fall and US growth recovers.
