US Dollar Index comes under pressure near 103.00 ahead of PCE

• DXY faces some selling sentiment and retests the 103.00 area.
• US yields trade in an inconclusive fashion near recent peaks.
• US Inflation PCE will take centre stage later in the NA session.

The greenback, in terms of the US Dollar Index (DXY), faces a corrective downside and comes all the way down to revisit the 103.00 neighbourhood at the end of the week.

US Dollar Index now looks to PCE

The index trades on the defensive after six consecutive daily advances and returns to the vicinity of 103.00 after hitting fresh cycle tops just pips away from the 104.00 hurdle on Thursday.

From the US cash markets, yields trade without a clear direction so far, although they manage to keep business in the upper end of the recent range on Friday.

In the meantime, the dollar remains well underpinned by speculations of a tighter normalization of the Fed’s monetary conditions, which is expected to kick in with a 50 bps rate hike at the May 4 event.

Later in the NA session, inflation figures tracked by the PCE (the Fed’s preferred gauge) will be the salient event seconded by Personal Income/Spending and the final Consumer Sentiment for the month of April.

What to look for around USD

The dollar faces some correction following Thursday’s 19-year highs near the 104.00 barrier. The Fed’s more aggressive rate path continues to be the main driver behind the robust bullish stance in the dollar, which also appears reinforced by the current elevated inflation narrative and the solid health of the labour market. Collaborating with the latter appear bouts of geopolitical tensions as well as the move higher in US yields.

Key events in the US this week: Core PCE, PCE, Final Consumer Sentiment, Personal Income/Spending (Friday).

Eminent issues on the back boiler: Escalating geopolitical effervescence vs. Russia and China. Fed’s rate path this year. US-China trade conflict. Future of Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

US Dollar Index relevant levels

Now, the index is retreating 0.68% at 102.98 and faces the next support at 99.81 (weekly low April 21) seconded by 99.57 (weekly low April 14) and then 97.68 (weekly low March 30). On the upside, the breakout of 103.92 (2022 high April 28) would open the door to 104.00 (round level) and finally 105.63 (high December 11 2002).