The USD has appreciated on a trade weighted basis in January so far; however, the appreciation in USD is mainly due to weakness in other currencies rather than specific factors that causes the USD to appreciate. The greenback appreciated on the back of declining commodity prices and rising risk aversion sentiments affecting EM currencies. The markets expect only one rate hike for this year as the global financial turmoil continues to prevail in the market.
Markets will be focused upon how FOMC evaluates the current market developments and what conclusions will be drawn for the March meet. This might have a limited effect on the dollar as markets expect a dovish stance from FOMC announcements. The FOMC's stance today on the possibility of a rate hike in March will provide guidance on interpreting the Fed's future developments


China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices
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RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan
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ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 



