USD/CAD gains ground above 1.3700 while outlook remains uncertain amid Iran optimism
- USD/CAD edges up to near 1.3780; outlook remains worsened on hopes of US-Iran permanent ceasefire.
- US President Trump expresses confidence that the war with Iran is close to over.
- Investors await the announcement of another round of US-Iran talks.
The USD/CAD pair trades slightly higher to near 1.3780 during the European trading session on Wednesday. The Loonie pair gained a temporary ground after posting a fresh three-week low near 1.3730 on Tuesday; however, the outlook remains uncertain amid hopes that the United States (US) and Iran could reach a permanent ceasefire soon.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News, “I view it as very close to over,” when asked how long the war with Iran will continue.
Meanwhile, US Vice President (VP) JD Vance has also expressed confidence, in a public event, that both sides are working towards a deal, and talks are taking place via channels including Pakistan. Vance added, “Discussions have made tremendous progress, and the current ceasefire holds for a seventh consecutive day.”
During the press time, market sentiment remains risk-on amid hopes of a US-Iran ceasefire. S&P 500 futures hold onto Tuesday’s gains near 6,970. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.1% higher to near 98.20, but is still close to its over six-week low of 97.97 posted on Tuesday.
US Dollar Price Last 7 Days
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies last 7 days. US Dollar was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -1.61% | -1.98% | -0.40% | -0.77% | -2.19% | -2.80% | -2.03% | |
| EUR | 1.61% | -0.39% | 1.20% | 0.80% | -0.63% | -1.22% | -0.45% | |
| GBP | 1.98% | 0.39% | 1.62% | 1.23% | -0.26% | -0.83% | -0.05% | |
| JPY | 0.40% | -1.20% | -1.62% | -0.38% | -1.83% | -2.53% | -1.62% | |
| CAD | 0.77% | -0.80% | -1.23% | 0.38% | -1.36% | -2.15% | -1.23% | |
| AUD | 2.19% | 0.63% | 0.26% | 1.83% | 1.36% | -0.71% | 0.20% | |
| NZD | 2.80% | 1.22% | 0.83% | 2.53% | 2.15% | 0.71% | 0.89% | |
| CHF | 2.03% | 0.45% | 0.05% | 1.62% | 1.23% | -0.20% | -0.89% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Going forward, investors will focus on the outcome of the second round of US-Iran talks, whose date has not been confirmed, but will likely take place before the expiration of the two-week ceasefire on April 21, according to Reuters.
On the domestic front, traders do not expect the Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise interest rates this year anymore amid optimism on the US-Iran truce.
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.
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