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US Dollar Outlook Hinges on FOMC Guidance, Fed Balance Sheet

US Dollar Outlook Hinges on FOMC Guidance, Fed Balance Sheet

Rich Dvorak, Analyst

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US DOLLAR OUTLOOK TO TAKE CUE FROM FEDERAL RESERVE ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS, FOMC BALANCE SHEET GUIDANCE & FED CHAIR POWELL PRESS CONFERENCE

  • US Dollar outlook remains focused on the December Fed meeting with forex traders likely directing attention toward updated FOMC projections and commentary from Fed Chair Powell
  • The US Dollar could rise with Fed officials underscoring their relatively less-dovish position, but the Greenback may face downward pressure owing to the ballooning FOMC balance sheet
  • Check out this article on US Dollar Volatility & Fed Meetings for an analysis on how major currency pairs have historically responded to FOMC interest rate decisions

USD price action will be front and center during Wednesday’s trading session with the Federal Reserve scheduled to release its latest interest rate decision at 19:00 GMT. This will be accompanied by an update to the central bank’s quarterly economic projections and will be followed by Fed Chair Powell’s press conference due to start Wednesday at 19:30 GMT.

CHART OF FEDERAL RESERVE ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS (SEPTEMBER 2019)

Chart of Federal Reserve Summary of Economic Projections and US Dollar Outlook

Source: Federal Reserve

I recently outlined how US Dollar outlook is fixated on trade talks, the most recent jobs report and forward guidance provided by FOMC officials. The FOMC has slashed its policy interest rate by 0.75% so far this year after cutting the federal funds rate by 25-basis points at the last 3 consecutive Fed meetings (deemed a mid-cycle adjustment).

With the Fed relatively turning less-dovish since the end of October, which was highlighted in FOMC minutes from the most recent Fed meeting, USD price action could catch a bid if the Fed underscores its firming monetary policy stance. This will likely be conveyed in the updated summary of economic projections and the median target federal funds rate forecast in particular.

CHART OF FOMC INTEREST RATE CUT PROBABILITIES

Chart of FOMC Interest Rate Cut Probabilities and US Dollar Outlook

The Fed still appears slightly accommodative, however, judging by futures-implied probabilities for future FOMC interest rate cuts. Although the market is overwhelmingly expecting the Fed to stand pat on rates this December, rates traders are currently pricing in roughly 0.3% of easing over the next 12-months with a futures-implied target FFR of 1.323% by December 2020.

This compares to the current FFR target range of 1.50-1.75%. The convergence between currently priced market expectations and FOMC projections stands to overwhelmingly drive the direction of the US Dollar with the recent global rate cut cycle seemingly on pause.

CHART OF FED BALANCE SHEET

Chart of Fed Balance Sheet and US Dollar Outlook

Another primary fundamental factor steering USD price action and the broader DXY Index – a popular basket of major US Dollar currency pairs – is details on changes in the Fed balance sheet. The Federal Reserve has inflated its balance sheet by a staggering $300 billion since the beginning of September and reverses nearly half of the tapering throughout 2018 and majority of this year.

Though Fed Chair Powell steadfastly claims that the surge in assets held by the US central bank over the last 4-months is not to be confused with quantitative easing. Rather, the sharp rise in the Fed balance sheet is owed to the FOMC injecting cash into the market via overnight repos aiming to ease recent funding pressures. Correspondingly, a rise in the Fed balance sheet (and supply of US Dollars outstanding) poses a major threat to USD price action and could continue to exert downward pressure on the broader DXY Index.

CHART OF US DOLLAR IMPLIED VOLATILITY & TRADING RANGES (OVERNIGHT)

US Dollar Price Chart Outlook Implied Volatility Trading Ranges Fed Meeting December 2019

USD price action is expected to be relatively elevated during Wednesday's trading session judging by the latest overnight implied volatility readings across major US Dollar currency pairs. This is to be expected, however, considering the high-impact event risk typically associated with FOMC interest rate decisions.

Options-implied trading ranges are calculated using 1-standard deviation (i.e. 68% statistical probability price action is contained within the implied trading range over the specified time frame).

For comprehensive fundamental and technical insight on the US Dollar, download our free 4Q-2019 Forecasts and Trading Guides.

-- Written by Rich Dvorak, Junior Analyst for DailyFX.com

Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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