US Dollar Index: Definition, Formula, and Historical Data

Forex trading involves the exchange of currencies from different countries. In the forex market, traders use various tools and indicators to analyze the market and make informed trading decisions. One of these tools is the DXY, which is a widely used index in the forex market. Supply and demand for currencies is heavily influenced by the monetary policies – particularly the interest rates – set by the central bank in each country. Other factors include inflation, economic performance, credit ratings, market sentiment and foreign affairs.

Any examples given are provided for illustrative purposes only and no representation is being made that any person will, or is likely to, achieve profits or losses similar to those examples. DailyFX Limited is not responsible for any trading decisions taken by persons not intended to view this material. Over 80% of currency pairs traded feature the USD as either the base or quote currency. The DXY is a valuable tool for forex traders as it allows them to track the performance of the U.S. dollar against other currencies. Traders can use the index to identify trends in the forex market, such as the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar.

As a stronger currency can reduce demand for exports to other countries that pay for the goods with relatively weaker currencies, some governments pursue policies to keep down their nation’s currency value. Conversely, countries that import heavily favour a stronger currency to reduce the foreign exchange cost of paying for those imports. In addition to futures and options contracts, one of the easiest and most popular ways to trade the DXY is with contracts for difference, or CFDs. A CFD is a type of contract, typically between a broker and a trader, where one party agrees to pay the other the difference in the value of an asset, between the opening and closing of the trade. Therefore, when you trade DXY using CFDs, you speculate on the direction of the underlying asset’s prices without actually owning it.

  1. This makes the USDX a pretty good tool for measuring the U.S. dollar’s global strength.
  2. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index is calculated in real-time approximately every 15 seconds.
  3. The prices of the DX futures contracts are set by the market, and reflect interest rate differentials between the respective currencies and the U.S. dollar.
  4. AxiTrader Limited is a member of The Financial Commission, an international organization engaged in the resolution of disputes within the financial services industry in the Forex market.

The index was introduced after the Bretton Woods Agreement, which meant the dollar was no longer backed by gold. The value of each currency is multiplied by its weight, which is a positive number when the U.S. dollar is the base currency. In the equation above, the euro has the most weight, followed by the Japanese yen and the British pound. The NASDAQ 100 is a stock market index made up of 100 of the world’s largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange including Apple, Google, and Tesla. If you are using technical analysis in your trading, you can analyse the US Dollar Index in pretty much the same way you would do any for any type of currency pair or stock index.

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Dollar Index trading allowing virtually round-the-clock access to futures traders around the world. The equity funds tracking the dollar index are ETFs, which means they can be traded on the stock exchange just like any other stock. As well as being a trader, Milan writes daily analysis for the Axi community, using his extensive knowledge of financial markets to provide unique insights and commentary. This is one of the reasons why the index has been criticised in the past. In the coming years, it is likely currencies will be replaced as the index strives to represent major U.S. trading partners.

The basket of currencies consists of the Euro, Swiss Franc, Japanese Yen, Canadian Dollar, British Pound, and Swedish Krona. The value of the US Dollar Index fell in 2020 after the initial flight to safety, as the US Federal Reserve policy to reduce interest rates to record lows and stimulate investment reduced the value of the dollar. The DXY refers to the US Dollar Index, which liquid market is the global benchmark for the value of the US dollar measured against a basket of foreign currencies. First and foremost, if the DXY raises, it will push the USD base pairs higher, and push USD quote pairs lower. USD base pair – such as USD/CHF, and USD/CAD will move with the DXY, as all these currencies are incorporated into the DXY, with USD being on the front end.

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The index will rise if the Dollar strengthens against these currencies and fall if it weakens. Keep reading to learn more on the US Dollar Index, how it is calculated, and what affects it price. The prices of the DX futures contracts are set by the market, and reflect interest rate differentials between the respective currencies and the U.S. dollar. You agree that LearnFX is not responsible for any losses or damages you may incur as a result of any action you may take regarding the information contained on this website. The regulated signals offered by this website are provided by a third-party service provider and you understand that any losses you may experience from using these signals are entirely at your own risk and liability. After the gold standard was abandoned, countries switched to floating currency rates.

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This information can be used to make informed trading decisions, such as buying or selling currency pairs that are impacted by the performance of the U.S. dollar. DXY trading allows investors to gain exposure to the foreign exchange markets based on the US dollar, the global reserve currency. The American dollar is highly liquid and responds to global market trends as well as what is happening in the US economy, providing great opportunities for traders. Moreover, investors can use the US Dollar Index to hedge their portfolios against the risk of a move in the value of the US dollar.

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It was created shortly after the Bretton Woods Agreement collapsed, and its intention was to track the dollar’s performance compared to the currencies of the main US trading partners. Since the 1980s, it has become tradable as a futures contract, and speculators have been using it as a way to speculate on the movement of the US Dollar against a basket of other major currencies. The value of the DXY Index is calculated in real-time approximately every 15 seconds based on spot prices of the constituent currencies.

Information is of a general nature only and does not consider your financial objectives, needs or personal circumstances. Important legal documents in relation to our products and services are available on our website. You should read and understand these documents before applying for any AxiTrader products or services and obtain independent professional advice as necessary.

The company is incorporated according to the laws of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Buying 100 shares of UUP means the trader expects the dollar to outperform the six constituent currencies. When the index is increasing, the other six currencies are losing ground. This can be due to changing inflation figures, trade, as well as a multitude of political factors. The dollar index is often used as the benchmark performance indicator for the US economy, alongside the S&P 500. Milan is frequently quoted and mentioned in many financial publications, including Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Barrons, CNN, Reuters, New York Post, and MarketWatch.

It compares the value of the US Dollar against six currencies used by major US trade partners – the Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Pound Sterling (GBP), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Swedish Krona (SEK) and Swiss Franc (CHF). https://bigbostrade.com/ We introduce people to the world of trading currencies, both fiat and crypto, through our non-drowsy educational content and tools. We’re also a community of traders that support each other on our daily trading journey.

It is likely in the future that currencies such as the Chinese yuan (CNY) and Mexican peso (MXN) will supplant other currencies in the index due to China and Mexico being major trading partners with the U.S. The liquidity on the futures contract for the US Dollar Index comes from the spot currency market, which ICE estimates has a daily turnover of more than $2trn. There is a market maker program that helps to ensure continuous liquidity throughout the day in electronic trading. There is some debate in the currency markets that the US Dollar Index should be reformulated to include currencies from emerging markets that have become larger US trading partners, such as China and Mexico.