FX markets likely to remain volatile into year-end

After rallying to its highest level of the year last week, the US dollar seems set to end this week broadly unchanged. In our view, this reflects the offsetting effects of rising short-term yields in the US (particularly after Chair Powell’s comments to Congress on Wednesday) and falling long-term yields amid growing concerns about the Omicron variant. Despite today’s mixed payrolls report, we think the bigger picture remains that sustained inflationary pressures in the US are likely to support faster policy normalisation by the Fed and keep the dollar strong. In addition to uncertainty about the Omicron variant, we expect next week’s CPI data from the US and the wide range of central bank meetings to keep volatility in FX markets elevated throughout December.