Video commentary: What's driving U.S. dollar weakness?

One of the most decisive factors is the anticipated slowdown in the U.S. economy, driven largely by a historic rise in tariffs. The magnitude of these tariff increases, not seen since the 1930s, will be felt primarily by U.S. consumers and is expected to depress demand and slow growth. We anticipate that this environment will prompt the Federal Reserve to resume interest rate cuts, narrowing the gap with other central banks and removing a key support for the dollar.

Investor sentiment is also shifting. Heightened uncertainty around U.S. policy — ranging from trade decisions to the broader stance of the administration — has begun to erode traditional relationships between the dollar and U.S. asset returns. This signals a reassessment of the dollar’s perceived role as a safe haven currency.

Compounding these cyclical and sentiment-driven factors is a concerning fiscal outlook. The U.S. is projected to sustain fiscal deficits of 6 to 7% of GDP, far exceeding those of peer economies, alongside a persistent current account deficit. This “twin deficit” scenario increases reliance on foreign capital at a time when institutional investors and central banks are likely to reduce their exposure to U.S. assets. The result is a structural headwind for the dollar that is expected to persist over the medium term.

• The U.S. dollar remains the dominant global reserve currency, but its overvaluation and mounting headwinds suggest a gradual, persistent weakening trend. 
• Investors and currency managers should consider active positioning to capture potential alpha from dollar weakness. 
• Non-U.S. domiciled investors should evaluate U.S. dollar exposure, considering increased strategic currency hedges.

While we do not foresee a sudden collapse in the dollar’s global role, even incremental changes in investor attitudes and cross-border flows can have meaningful effects on returns and risk management. In this evolving environment, prudent currency strategy and vigilant monitoring of macroeconomic developments will be essential for navigating the challenges ahead.