AAPLLoadingMSFTLoadingNVDALoadingGOOGLLoadingAMZNLoadingMETALoadingTSLALoadingAMDLoadingNFLXLoadingCOINLoadingPYPLLoadingSPYLoadingQQQLoadingIWMLoadingJPMLoadingVLoadingDISLoadingKOLoadingJNJLoadingNKELoadingXOMLoadingASMLLoading
FreeDXY5 min read

The dollar smile is flattening

DXY
Delayed

The thesis

Dollar strength needs either a US growth surprise or a global risk event. Absent both, carry does the work and the dollar drifts.

What I'm watching

  • Rate differentials at the 2y point
  • Cross-currency basis
  • Positioning in the CFTC data

Positioning

Watch, 4-8 weeks. Conviction: Low. FX trends persist far longer than they should. Don't fade early.

Opinion, not investment advice. The author may or may not hold positions discussed.

Opinion. The author may or may not hold positions discussed. Not advice. Not a financial promotion approved under FSMA s.21. Quote data is delayed. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Comments

27 comments
Sign in to comment.
Greta Rivas·

The second point is the one most people are going to skip over.

2 replies
Amara OkaforAuthor·

Following on from that —

1 reply

Right, but consider the second-order effect.

1 reply
Dana Cho·

Which is exactly why the timing matters.

1 reply
Priya Nair·

Fair, though that assumes the base case holds.

1 reply

And if it doesn't?

1 reply
Kenji Aoyama·

Then you're sized wrong, not wrong on direction.

1 reply
Lena Brandt·

That's the distinction I was reaching for.

1 reply
Marcus Bell·

Agreed. Leaving it there.

Amara Okafor·

Yes, and I'll post an update if that level goes.

Elliot Vance·

Good timing — was just reworking my DXY sizing this morning.

3 replies
Bruno Ibrahim·

This is the right question. The answer changes the whole setup.

Nils Okafor·

That's the part I keep going back and forth on.

Aisha Sandoval·

Fair, though I'd want to see it hold for another week before sizing up.

Nora Aziz·

Reasonable thesis but I think DXY is priced for most of this already.

Ben Grimaldi·

Been waiting for someone to write this up properly. Thanks.

Nadia Rossi·

What would make you exit this?

32 replies
Priya Nair·

I'd push back slightly: the base rate on that is worse than it feels.

Ines Okonkwo·

I'd push back slightly: the base rate on that is worse than it feels.

Amara Okafor·

Fair pushback. I'd agree if positioning were more extreme, but the flow data doesn't show that yet.

3 replies
Clara Mercer·

Fair, though I'd want to see it hold for another week before sizing up.

Nadia Rossi·

That's the part I keep going back and forth on.

Same read here. The risk is it takes longer than anyone wants.

Hana Mercer·

Any read on how this interacts with the broader DXY complex?

Amara Okafor·

Sizing is roughly a third of a normal position until the thesis confirms.

22 replies
Callum Bradfield·

Good point — hadn't looked at it that way.

Dmitri Nakamura·

Fair, though I'd want to see it hold for another week before sizing up.