USD Breaking Out

The US Dollar continues to push higher midweek with the Dollar Index now trading at its highest levels since early 2025 following the breakout above the $100 mark. Hawkish Fed expectations are underpinning the move on the back of last week’s June FOMC. The meeting, which was the first under new Fed chairman Kevin Warsh saw a firmly hawkish shift in the update dot-plot forecast.

Hawkish Dot Plot Shift

The latest projections show that nine out of eighteen policymakers expect a hike this year, with five members expecting two hikes. This is up sharply from the zero-figure seen in March and reflects the shift in Fed members’ outlook as a result of soaring inflation. On the back of the meeting, market pricing for a Fed rate hike this year surged higher to more than 80% from below 60% ahead of the meeting. With traders now widely expecting the Fed to lift rates, USD looks prone to further upside near-term, particularly in response to any bullish data. With that in mind, traders will be looking to tomorrow’s core PCE data which is expected to lift slightly on the month. If seen, this should keep USD grinding higher through the back of the week. We also have Fed’s Pill and Dhingra speaking later today, with several more due through the rest of the week and any hawkish comments will create additional support for the Dollar.

Technical Views

DXY

The rally above the $100-level is gathering pace here with the index now fast approaching a test of the May 2025 highs around 101.91 and the bull channel highs above. With momentum studies bullish, focus is on a continuation higher while price holds above the 100.18 level.