Yesterday, Swiss CPI (consumer inflation) data for September was released and was lower than expected, coming in at 0.0% m/m and -0.9% y/y. The forecast was for + 0.1% m/m and -0.8% y/y. Today's unemployment report for September showed a jobless rate of 4.1%, in line with expectations, but slightly higher than the August jobless rate of 4.0%.
The USDCHF has been trending down since March.
This has mostly been a result of negative dollar sentiment, as opposed to CHF strength. The inflation news was a good example of this interplay, with FX traders reacting by driving the pair to daily lows of 1.0237, even though the news was CHF negative. The EURCHF traded more predictably, edging up on the news to above the 1.5100 mark.
The inflation report does not favor FX market speculation about a Swiss National Bank short-term interest rate hike. This should in theory put downward pressure on the Swiss franc in the medium term and push the USDCHF higher.
However, in the near term, there still appears to be considerable pressure to sell the USDCHF. The outlook for the US dollar continues to worsen, which leaves the CHF, a former safe haven currency, as the preference for FOREX investors. Traders are providing short-term support for the USDCHF at 1.0182 and longer term at 1.0135, and short-term resistance at 1.0455 and longer term at 1.0685.
Forex broker summary
Looking ahead, the USDCHF currently appears to be fairly comfortable in the 1.02 range, but USD volatility will drive the pair in the short-term. Since the short-term sentiment for the dollar is negative, the short-term outlook for the USDCHF is bearish.



