US Dollar
In this report, Martin Barnes, BCA’s Emeritus Chief Economist, reflects on the rise in US government debt, dollar strength, and profit margin expansion that has occurred over the past 25 years. He argues that these trends are unsustainable and are bound to reverse within the next few years.
As long as the AI boom keeps booming, all other investment considerations will remain on the back burner. However, if the AI trade fizzles, this would expose deep-seated problems within the global economy, which could very well lead to an economic downturn as early as next year.
The US dollar will become a pro-cyclical currency going forward. This regime shift would upend financial market correlations, and most investment portfolios are not positioned for it. A great deal of money is made or lost during regime changes - and one is coming soon. That is why our message remains loud and clear: Get Out of the Dollar (G.O.D.).
The dollar has had a strong run but its key supports from Fed repricing, positioning, and terms of trade are starting to fade. We close our tactical long USD positions and turn to short USD/JPY, where intervention risk makes yen shorts look increasingly dangerous.
The dollar's muted response to the Iran conflict has led many to question its safe-haven appeal. We argue the opposite – the dollar's defensive properties have returned, while improving growth and rate dynamics should underpin further USD strength in the months ahead.
