Select Language

US Dollar Index remains subdued around 98.50 due to government shutdown, Fed rate cut bets

Breaking news

US Dollar Index remains subdued around 98.50 due to government shutdown, Fed rate cut bets

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
New update 2025.10.20 13:59
US Dollar Index remains subdued around 98.50 due to government shutdown, Fed rate cut bets

update 2025.10.20 13:59

  • US Dollar Index declines as the government shutdown has stretched into its 19th day with no resolution in sight.
  • CME FedWatch Tool shows markets pricing nearly 100% odds of an October rate cut and 96% for December.
  • President Trump said that tariffs on China may be lowered, but China has to do things for the United States, too.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, is retracing its recent gains registered in the previous session and trading around 98.40 during the Asian hours on Monday.

The Greenback weakens due to the ongoing US government shutdown, which has stretched into its 19th day with no resolution in sight, as senators failed for the tenth time to break the impasse during Thursday's votes. It now stands as the third-longest funding lapse in modern US history.

The US Dollar also faces challenges amid the increased likelihood of further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). The CME FedWatch Tool indicates that markets are now pricing in nearly a 100% chance of a Fed rate cut in October and a 96% possibility of another reduction in December.

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem spoke at the Institute of International Finance Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday that he could support a path with another rate cut if more risks to jobs emerge and inflation is contained. Musalem added that the Fed should not be on a preset course and follow a balanced approach.

The easing trade tensions between the United States and China may improve the market sentiment, limiting the downside of the US Dollar. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he wants China to buy soybeans at least in the amount they were buying before. Trump added that he believes China will make a deal on soybeans. "We can lower what China has to pay in tariffs, but China has to do things for us too," he added. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to meet in the coming days to ease tensions ahead of a potential meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi later this month.

US Dollar FAQs

The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the 'de facto' currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world's reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away.

The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed's 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback.

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed's weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.


Date

Created

 : 2025.10.20

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.10.20

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

CNY: Low inflation despite surprise - Commerzbank

Over the weekend, Chinese inflation figures were published and showed a slight surprise on the upside. In this case, however, this should be seen as positive - because while the rest of the world is struggling with inflation that tends to be too high, China is still on the brink of deflation.
New
update2025.11.10 20:10

EUR/HUF slides toward key 383 support - Société Générale

EUR/HUF continues its steady decline, with the pair drifting toward the crucial 383/382 support zone at the base of its descending channel, Société Générale's FX analysts note.
New
update2025.11.10 19:48

USD: Thanksgiving focuses the minds - ING

Developments over the weekend hint at a path to ending the US government shutdown. It seems the prospect of massive flight delays around Thanksgiving and the delay in food aid payments has prompted a group of moderate Democrats to back a proposed compromise bill in the Senate.
New
update2025.11.10 19:45

Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD jumps to near $4,080 as Fed rate cut in December looks likely

Gold price (XAU/USD) trades 2% higher to near $4,080 during the European trading session on Monday. The yellow metal strengthens amid steady expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates again in the December policy meeting.
New
update2025.11.10 19:42

USD/JPY: 2-way trades - OCBC

USD/JPY jumped in early trade this morning, as demand for safe haven proxy faded in reaction to news that US government shutdown may be nearing an end. USD/JPY last seen at 154.17 levels, OCBC's FX analysts Frances Cheung and Christopher Wong note.
New
update2025.11.10 19:36

TRY: Inflation forecasts revised up despite assurances - Commerzbank

The Turkish central bank (CBT) has adjusted its year-end inflation forecast for 2025, once again, upward to 31%-33%, compared with the previous 25%-29%. This revision aligns with existing analyst consensus forecasts.
New
update2025.11.10 19:25

DXY: Hopes of US government reopening - OCBC

US Dollar (USD) traded mixed this morning, with gains seen vs. low yielding major FX while losses were seen vs. risk-proxy FX, including AUD, KRW. DXY was last at 99.55 levels, OCBC's FX analysts Frances Cheung and Christopher Wong note.
New
update2025.11.10 19:15

Silver extends rally to three-week high near $50 on Fed rate cut hopes

Silver (XAG/USD) continues its advance at the start of the week, trading around $49.85 per ounce on Monday at the time of writing, up 3.0% for the day and marking its highest level in three weeks at $50.00 earlier in the day.
New
update2025.11.10 19:14

CAD: Two outliers are almost a trend reversal - Commerzbank

Following the unexpectedly strong Canadian labour market report for September, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem still referred to it as an outlier.
New
update2025.11.10 19:13

GBP: Tuesday's jobs data should weigh - ING

EUR/GBP is back below 0.88 again as GBP/USD seems to find good demand under 1.31, ING's FX analyst Chris Turner notes.
New
update2025.11.10 19:00

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel