Fall of the US dollar: institutional investors were already selling in February
The US dollar (DXY) is officially the weakest currency on the floating foreign exchange market (Forex) since the beginning of the year. Down over 8% against all the world's major currencies, this vertical downtrend had been anticipated by technical analysis as early as January. This comes as no surprise to those who follow major technical signals: breakout of the 200-day moving average in early March, structural pressures visible with the Elliott wave fractal approach, bearish signals from the ichimoku system... in short, the technical tools had spoken, and the market has effectively embarked on a downtrend this year 2025.
The question now is: is a bottom in sight? In the short term, perhaps, the market is testing the strong chartist support of 99/100 points on the DXY (see main chart of this analysis).
In the medium term, the downtrend could continue. One thing is clear, and that is that institutional positioning has played a central role in the downturn: hedge funds and asset managers all turned bearish on the US dollar in the depths of winter. As early as February, the former became net buyers of EUR/USD, as shown by the CFTC's COT report. Then, at the beginning of March, all institutional investors became net sellers of the US dollar against a basket of major currencies (see the inset data in the chart below).
Bis repetita with the first year of Trump's first term (2017)
It was the trade war, that of the so-called reciprocal tariffs, which saw the increase in medium-term bearish technical signals on the US dollar against a basket of major currencies. Volatility on Wall Street exploded, not least because of the Trump administration's escalating tariffs. The US economic climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable for markets, with trade policy seemingly improvised and decisions generating systemic uncertainty.
But that's not all: the US bond market is also sending out warning signals. The 10-year yield has gone up, and spreads between the US and other developed economies have widened. Some even speak of a form of Chinese pressure on US debt, through massive sales of Treasuries. The MOVE index, a barometer of bond volatility, confirms it: the tension is there, and it's clearly weighing on the dollar.
DISCLAIMER:
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only. The presented idea (including market commentary, market data and observations) is not a work product of any research department of Swissquote or its affiliates. This material is intended to highlight market action and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. If you are a retail investor or lack experience in trading complex financial products, it is advisable to seek professional advice from licensed advisor before making any financial decisions.
This content is not intended to manipulate the market or encourage any specific financial behavior.
Swissquote makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, completeness, accuracy, comprehensiveness or non-infringement of such content. The views expressed are those of the consultant and are provided for educational purposes only. Any information provided relating to a product or market should not be construed as recommending an investment strategy or transaction. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Swissquote and its employees and representatives shall in no event be held liable for any damages or losses arising directly or indirectly from decisions made on the basis of this content.
The use of any third-party brands or trademarks is for information only and does not imply endorsement by Swissquote, or that the trademark owner has authorised Swissquote to promote its products or services.
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All investments carry a degree of risk. The risk of loss in trading or holding financial instruments can be substantial. The value of financial instruments, including but not limited to stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and other assets, can fluctuate both upwards and downwards. There is a significant risk of financial loss when buying, selling, holding, staking, or investing in these instruments. SQBE makes no recommendations regarding any specific investment, transaction, or the use of any particular investment strategy.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail client accounts suffer capital losses when trading in CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Digital Assets are unregulated in most countries and consumer protection rules may not apply. As highly volatile speculative investments, Digital Assets are not suitable for investors without a high-risk tolerance. Make sure you understand each Digital Asset before you trade.
Cryptocurrencies are not considered legal tender in some jurisdictions and are subject to regulatory uncertainties.
The use of Internet-based systems can involve high risks, including, but not limited to, fraud, cyber-attacks, network and communication failures, as well as identity theft and phishing attacks related to crypto-assets.
The US dollar (DXY) is officially the weakest currency on the floating foreign exchange market (Forex) since the beginning of the year. Down over 8% against all the world's major currencies, this vertical downtrend had been anticipated by technical analysis as early as January. This comes as no surprise to those who follow major technical signals: breakout of the 200-day moving average in early March, structural pressures visible with the Elliott wave fractal approach, bearish signals from the ichimoku system... in short, the technical tools had spoken, and the market has effectively embarked on a downtrend this year 2025.
The question now is: is a bottom in sight? In the short term, perhaps, the market is testing the strong chartist support of 99/100 points on the DXY (see main chart of this analysis).
In the medium term, the downtrend could continue. One thing is clear, and that is that institutional positioning has played a central role in the downturn: hedge funds and asset managers all turned bearish on the US dollar in the depths of winter. As early as February, the former became net buyers of EUR/USD, as shown by the CFTC's COT report. Then, at the beginning of March, all institutional investors became net sellers of the US dollar against a basket of major currencies (see the inset data in the chart below).
Bis repetita with the first year of Trump's first term (2017)
It was the trade war, that of the so-called reciprocal tariffs, which saw the increase in medium-term bearish technical signals on the US dollar against a basket of major currencies. Volatility on Wall Street exploded, not least because of the Trump administration's escalating tariffs. The US economic climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable for markets, with trade policy seemingly improvised and decisions generating systemic uncertainty.
But that's not all: the US bond market is also sending out warning signals. The 10-year yield has gone up, and spreads between the US and other developed economies have widened. Some even speak of a form of Chinese pressure on US debt, through massive sales of Treasuries. The MOVE index, a barometer of bond volatility, confirms it: the tension is there, and it's clearly weighing on the dollar.
DISCLAIMER:
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only. The presented idea (including market commentary, market data and observations) is not a work product of any research department of Swissquote or its affiliates. This material is intended to highlight market action and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. If you are a retail investor or lack experience in trading complex financial products, it is advisable to seek professional advice from licensed advisor before making any financial decisions.
This content is not intended to manipulate the market or encourage any specific financial behavior.
Swissquote makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, completeness, accuracy, comprehensiveness or non-infringement of such content. The views expressed are those of the consultant and are provided for educational purposes only. Any information provided relating to a product or market should not be construed as recommending an investment strategy or transaction. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Swissquote and its employees and representatives shall in no event be held liable for any damages or losses arising directly or indirectly from decisions made on the basis of this content.
The use of any third-party brands or trademarks is for information only and does not imply endorsement by Swissquote, or that the trademark owner has authorised Swissquote to promote its products or services.
Swissquote is the marketing brand for the activities of Swissquote Bank Ltd (Switzerland) regulated by FINMA, Swissquote Capital Markets Limited regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), Swissquote Bank Europe SA (Luxembourg) regulated by the CSSF, Swissquote Ltd (UK) regulated by the FCA, Swissquote Financial Services (Malta) Ltd regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, Swissquote MEA Ltd. (UAE) regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, Swissquote Pte Ltd (Singapore) regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Swissquote Asia Limited (Hong Kong) licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Swissquote South Africa (Pty) Ltd supervised by the FSCA.
Products and services of Swissquote are only intended for those permitted to receive them under local law.
All investments carry a degree of risk. The risk of loss in trading or holding financial instruments can be substantial. The value of financial instruments, including but not limited to stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and other assets, can fluctuate both upwards and downwards. There is a significant risk of financial loss when buying, selling, holding, staking, or investing in these instruments. SQBE makes no recommendations regarding any specific investment, transaction, or the use of any particular investment strategy.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail client accounts suffer capital losses when trading in CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Digital Assets are unregulated in most countries and consumer protection rules may not apply. As highly volatile speculative investments, Digital Assets are not suitable for investors without a high-risk tolerance. Make sure you understand each Digital Asset before you trade.
Cryptocurrencies are not considered legal tender in some jurisdictions and are subject to regulatory uncertainties.
The use of Internet-based systems can involve high risks, including, but not limited to, fraud, cyber-attacks, network and communication failures, as well as identity theft and phishing attacks related to crypto-assets.
This content is written by Vincent Ganne for Swissquote.
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice.
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
This content is written by Vincent Ganne for Swissquote.
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice.
This content is intended for individuals who are familiar with financial markets and instruments and is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.