The dollar made slight gains on the first trading day of the year as all eyes turned toward upcoming economic data, key for predicting the Federal Reserve’s next steps. Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged past $45,000, marking its highest point since April 2022.

In 2023, the dollar index, measuring the U.S. currency against six others, dropped 2%, ending two years of growth. Currently sitting at 101.44, it’s up 0.059% as investors speculate on potential Fed rate cuts this year.
The dollar’s rise had the most impact on the Japanese yen, which fell 0.35% to 141.36 per dollar, following a 7% slide in 2023.
Japan faced challenges as rescue teams struggled to reach areas hit by a powerful New Year’s Day earthquake. Over 20 casualties were reported, with buildings destroyed and thousands left without power.
Markets now anticipate an 86% chance of Fed rate cuts starting in March, with predictions of up to 150 basis points of easing in the year ahead.
Analysts like Marc Chandler from Bannockburn Global Forex note the shift in market sentiment, moving from expectations of sustained higher rates to aggressive central bank easing due to moderating price pressures and weaker growth.
This week’s focus lies on crucial economic data releases, including job openings and nonfarm payrolls, along with insights from the December Fed meeting minutes slated for Thursday.
Amid a dovish stance adopted in December, the Fed projected a 75 basis point rate reduction for 2024, differing from the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England (BoE), which plan to maintain higher rates for longer.
The euro slipped 0.13% to $1.103, retracting slightly from its recent five-month peak, while sterling held at $1.2729, showing a modest gain despite economic challenges and election uncertainties.
In the currency realm, the Australian dollar rose by 0.35% to $0.68335, while the New Zealand dollar remained stable at $0.63155.
As for the crypto market, Bitcoin made a significant start, hitting $45,532, a peak unseen in 21 months. This surge was fueled by expectations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission greenlighting exchange-traded spot bitcoin funds.