Swiss Franc retreats further, US Dollar firms up with Fed minutes in focus

• USD/CHF appreciates above 0.8300 as the US Dollar appreciates across the board.
• A mild risk appetite amid higher Oil prices has provided a fresh boost to the safe-haven USD.
• Investors are reluctant of selling the Greenback ahead of the release of the Fed minutes.

The Swiss Franc (CHF) loses ground for the third consecutive day against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, retracing the rebound witnessed late last week. The USD/CHF pair has returned above 0.8300, trading at 0.8323 as of writing, amid a firmer US Dollar ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) minutes, and the rebound in Oil prices.

The US central bank hiked for the first time in three years in September, as expected, and Chair Kevin Warsh surprised with an unequivocal hawkish message. Investors ramped up bets of back-to-back rate hikes following the meeting, but the soft inflation and employment reports released last week have curbed those hopes. Markets, however, remain confident that the bank will hike rates again in December and at least one more time in early 2027.

Rising Oil prices are weighing on risk appetite

Beyond that, Brent Oil prices have appreciated nearly $4 from Tuesday’s lows, hitting levels above the key $100, following news about a new wave of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia. Higher Oil prices pose a challenge for crude-importing countries such as Switzerland and add pressure on the Swissie.

In Switzerland, data from the Swiss National Bank released earlier in the day revealed that the country’s Foreign Currency reserves remained broadly steady at CHF 770,47 billion in September, from CHF 770 billion in August. The impact of these figures on the Swiss Franc has been minimal.

Strategists at UOB Group observe that the USD/CHF “has likely entered a range-trading phase between 0.8245 and 0.8365.” In the near term (one to three weeks), the bank expects the pair to remain confined to this broad consolidation band.