Loading…
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index jumped to a more-than-three-year high on March 19, 2020, up 3.9% for the week and 4.5% for the month. The Federal Reserve expanded dollar swap lines to nine countries, including Brazil, Mexico and South Korea, to meet heavy global demand for dollars amid the COVID-19 turmoil.
A surging dollar raises the local-currency cost of dollar debt and weakens emerging-market import capacity, which can pressure demand for US feed commodities and soybean meal in importing countries. Strength in the dollar generally weighs on dollar-denominated commodity prices.
marketwatch.comWilliam WattsMar 19, 2020After 2,356 past bullish macro events, US Dollar (Broad) moved a median +0.2% over 5 sessions (60% higher; middle half -0.3% to +0.7%), and +0.4% over 20.
After 301 past bullish macro events, Brazilian Real (BRL per USD) moved a median +0.4% over 5 sessions (57% higher; middle half -1.2% to +1.7%), and +1.0% over 20.
Not enough comparable past events yet for a historical read.
After 301 past bearish macro events, Corn moved a median -0.1% over 5 sessions (47% higher; middle half -2.2% to +1.3%), and +0.2% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
The dollar index hit a multi-year high on March 19 amid heavy global dollar demand, which pressured the real just before the March 20 move.
