The US dollar traded higher against most of the major currencies over the past week. No thanks to Yellen’s testimony before Congress. Market participants took away from her a reduced chance of a mid-year rate hike.
We disagree with the interpretation, seeing her comments as 1) playing down lowflation as transitory and 2) seeing the global influence being overall balanced as the decline in oil prices and interest rates offset the dollar’s appreciation. We continue to expect the FOMC to drop its “patient” forward guidance at its mid-March meeting.