USD/CHF retreated to the support level of 0.8400 after the US Consumer Price Index data for April indicated slower inflation than anticipated. The headline CPI reported a 2.3% year-on-year rise, down from March’s 2.4%, while the core CPI held steady at 2.8%.
The US Dollar Index fell to 101.30 from a recent high of 102.00, amid cooling inflation and ongoing trade concerns. The CME FedWatch tool showed a 61.4% chance of interest rates holding steady at 4.25%-4.50% for July, amidst broader economic worries.
Swiss Franc’s Safe Haven Status
The Swiss Franc strengthened against most major currencies, maintaining a safe-haven status during economic uncertainties. USD/CHF found support near 0.8375, a former key resistance point, as the pair sought stability.
Technical analysis shows USD/CHF nearing critical support of 0.8400, with potential for a bullish trend above the 20-day EMA at 0.8326. Key resistance levels are at 0.8500, while support levels lie at 0.8375, 0.8186, 0.8100, and 0.8040, depending on market dynamics.
The downward move in USD/CHF following the latest CPI release was a reflection of reduced inflation expectations and a tempered outlook on further US Federal Reserve tightening. CPI numbers, particularly the headline figure slipping to 2.3% year-on-year, sharpened the tone for future rate policy. Meanwhile, the core CPI’s steadiness at 2.8% signals stubborn underlying price pressures, potentially complicating the rate path over the summer months. That slight divergence is what caused a softening in the dollar’s positioning.
Movement in the US Dollar Index — easing toward 101.30 — added downward pressure on dollar pairs across the board, including USD/CHF. This drop came shortly after a brief peak at 102.00, which now appears to have been a short-lived reaction to earlier economic surprises. The latest CME FedWatch projections anchored near 61% for a July hold suggest a consensus forming around policy patience.
Market Dynamics And Future Projections
Market participants ought to maintain close attention to rate probabilities, especially those derived from instruments like Fed Funds futures. When futures lean toward a policy pause, dollar strength usually wanes, particularly against currencies that are perceived as stable or low-risk. That dynamic reasserted itself here, with the Franc gaining across several crosses — not solely against the dollar.
Taking the technicals into account, support at 0.8375 has shown resilience — previously acting as resistance — and now marks an area where dip-buying may begin to emerge. For the time being, if we do not see a sustained drop below this level, the broader trading community might look for any catalyst — economic or geopolitical — to rotate flows back into the dollar. The 0.8326 level, which lines up with the 20-day EMA, is a technical zone we are watching closely; a decisive move through it, up or down, would likely invite larger-volume positioning.
Above, the resistance at 0.8500 remains a pivotal short-term ceiling, and it’s unlikely to be taken out without a change in the macro narrative — either through unexpectedly strong US data or a shift in global risk sentiment. That said, movement toward 0.8400 and above should not be assumed unless buyers regain control with conviction.
Support structures further below at 0.8186, 0.8100, and even down to 0.8040 should be considered not merely as technical levels, but triggers for risk recalibration. If the pair drifts below those marks — particularly into the high 0.8100s — longer-term dollar longs could begin unwinding more aggressively, increasing volatility across G10 pairings.
In the near term, a focus remains on whether the current range around 0.8400 holds firm. If it does, price may oscillate in tight steps higher, barring any unexpected data shocks. Alternatively, a slice below it could see a retest of March lows, particularly if Swiss National Bank rhetoric turns more assertive or if upcoming US macro data disappoints further.
We are keeping an eye on bond yields, oil prices, and risk appetite indicators for additional clues. All three feed into how capital moves across pairs like USD/CHF — often indirectly — but with effects that are hard to ignore. How institutional flows manage strike volatility around these levels will also shape intraday momentum, particularly for shorter time-frame traders.