USD Slump Continues: Impact on US Equities and Key Market Insights

Jasper Osita - Market Analyst

2025-02-17 10:57:21

Overview:

  1. USD Weakness and Market Sentiment – The US Dollar continues its decline despite positive PPI numbers, as the data wasn't strong enough to attract investors. This ongoing weakness signals a risk-on sentiment, encouraging investors to shift towards riskier assets like equities.
  2. Impact on US Equities and Volatility – Major US indices (DOW, NASDAQ, and S&P 500) are showing strong upward momentum, moving closer to All-Time High (ATH) levels. Meanwhile, the VIX (Volatility Index) remains below 30, indicating low market fear and supporting the bullish trend.
  3. Outlook and Key Events to Watch – The next key target is the ATH liquidity levels, maintaining a bullish bias if prices stay above equilibrium. However, investors should watch the upcoming FOMC minutes for any hawkish signals that could influence market sentiment and potentially reverse the current trend.

USD Continues to Tumble as PPI Print Falls Short of Expectations

The US Dollar (USD) continues its downward spiral following the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report. Although the PPI numbers came out positive, they weren't strong enough to make the USD and bond yields appealing to investors. This ongoing decline shows no signs of recovery as the USD approaches the critical support level of 106.969, with a potential breakdown on the horizon.

How Does This Affect US Equities?

The weakening USD signals a risk-on sentiment among investors, indicating a growing appetite for riskier assets like equities. This shift is generally favorable for US stocks, as a lower dollar boosts the competitiveness of American exports, potentially driving corporate profits higher.

What Is the VIX Telling Us? 

The VIX (Volatility Index), also known as the "Fear Gauge," is currently below 30. This suggests that the market is not experiencing significant fear or uncertainty, supporting the ongoing risk-on sentiment.

Impact on Major US Indices: DOW, NASDAQ, and S&P 500

The Dow Jones (DOW), NASDAQ (NAS), and S&P 500 (SPX) are all showing strong upward momentum, inching closer to their All-Time High (ATH) levels. If market sentiment remains positive and no signs of weakness emerge, these indices could break through to new highs in the coming days.

DOW

NASDAQ

 

SPX

 

What to Expect in the Coming Days

From a technical perspective, the next significant target is the ATH liquidity levels. As long as the indices stay above their equilibrium levels, the bullish bias remains intact.

However, there is one crucial event to watch: the upcoming FOMC minutes next week. With inflationary pressures still a concern, any hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve could shift market sentiment and potentially reverse the current bullish trend.

Final Thoughts

As the USD continues to weaken and risk-on sentiment dominates, the US equity market looks poised for further gains. However, investors should stay cautious and keep an eye on upcoming economic events that could impact market dynamics.

Will the indices reach new highs, or will the FOMC minutes introduce unexpected volatility? Only time will tell, but for now, the bulls seem to have the upper hand.

This content may have been written by a third party. ACY makes no representation or warranty and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, nor any loss arising from any investment based on a recommendation, forecast or other information supplies by any third-party. This content is information only, and does not constitute financial, investment or other advice on which you can rely.

Author

Jasper has been in the markets since 2019 trading currencies, indices and commodities like Gold. His approach in the market is heavily accompanied by technical analysis and of course, supported by fundamentals. He has a background in trading proprietary firms and has been teaching students how to navigate themselves in the markets from basic to advance concepts.

Prices are indicative only