US-China Trade Developments
The Federal Reserve’s cautious approach contrasts with the SNB’s dovishness, favouring USD/CHF’s upward momentum as markets await further Fed insights. The US Dollar shows varied performance against major currencies, strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.
Ghiles Guezout, a Market Analyst, contributes market insights. This analysis is for informational purposes, not a recommendation to invest. Bitcoin’s 17-year evolution from digital cash to an institutional-grade asset is noted. Markets are risky; thorough research is advised, and no investment advice is provided by FXStreet or the author.
We recall periods when the Federal Reserve was cutting rates to the 4.00% level, creating a cautious but supportive environment for the US dollar. Today, on October 31, 2025, the policy divergence is even more stark, with the Fed holding its funds rate at 4.50%. This helps explain why USD/CHF is trading near 0.9100, significantly higher than the 0.8030 levels seen back then.
The Federal Reserves Current Caution
The Federal Reserve’s current caution is driven by persistent core inflation, which the latest CPI report showed is hovering around 3.1%. This stickiness means traders should consider that further rate cuts may be delayed, supporting options strategies that profit from a strong dollar. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield, now at 4.35%, reinforces this view and provides a strong incentive to hold US assets.
On the other side, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) remains one of the most dovish central banks, a stance similar to what we observed years ago. With Swiss inflation currently at a low 1.4%, the SNB has little reason to raise its 1.25% policy rate. This makes selling call options on the Swiss Franc an interesting strategy for the coming weeks.
Given this wide interest rate differential, we believe the path of least resistance for USD/CHF remains upward. Traders could look at buying at-the-money call options on USD/CHF with expirations in late December to position for continued dollar strength. Alternatively, selling cash-secured puts on the pair could generate income while setting a lower entry point.