US Politics Could Soon Revive De-Dollarization Talk: FX Moment
Sep 3, 2024
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Audrey Childe-Freeman, chief G-10 FX strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, and Stephen Chiu, chief Asia FX and rates strategist, dive into the complexities of de-dollarization amid looming U.S. elections. They explore how geopolitical shifts, particularly China's push for the yuan, impact global currency dynamics. The duo also discusses central banks' increasing gold purchases in response to inflation and doubts about the dollar's future credibility, highlighting the ongoing tension between the U.S. and China.
Despite geopolitical challenges, the U.S. dollar continues to dominate as the global reserve currency, holding 58% of global reserves.
The upcoming U.S. presidential elections could reshape currency dynamics and influence the trends of de-dollarization and yuan internationalization.
Deep dives
The Dollar's Continued Dominance
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and discussions around de-dollarization, the U.S. dollar remains the leading global reserve currency. Statistics show that 58% of global reserves are held in dollars, and it accounts for 44% of foreign exchange daily turnover. International debts and loans predominantly use the dollar, indicating its sustained dominance in global trade. The geographical realities of trade, with 75% of transactions occurring within or between advanced economies, further support the dollar's strong position in the international monetary system, with no immediate threats to its supremacy.
Impact of U.S. Presidential Elections on Currency Dynamics
The upcoming U.S. presidential elections are expected to influence de-dollarization and currency dynamics, particularly concerning China. Different foreign policy approaches proposed by candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump may affect trade relationships and currency valuations. A potential increase in tariffs on Chinese imports could positively impact the dollar, while isolationist policies could exacerbate de-dollarization trends. Ultimately, the election outcomes may have significant implications for both the U.S. dollar and the Chinese yuan in the global financial landscape.
Rising Interest in Gold Amidst Economic Uncertainty
Central banks, particularly in emerging markets like China and India, have significantly increased their gold purchases, viewing it as a safer asset amid inflation concerns and geopolitical conflicts. The ongoing scrutiny of the U.S. dollar's credibility has led these nations to diversify their reserves, with gold gaining prominence. The fear of inflation and heightened geopolitical tensions, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, drive this trend towards gold accumulation. As long as uncertainties about the dollar persist, the demand for gold as an alternative reserve currency is likely to continue growing.
The dollar's status as the ultimate global reserve currency is intact and the currency is still leading on the International Monetary System's key parameters. Yet geopolitics and China's efforts to push for internationalization of the yuan are keeping FX regionalization and de-dollarization topical. Audrey Childe-Freeman, Bloomberg Intelligence's chief G-10 FX strategist, and BI chief Asia FX and rates strategist Stephen Chiu discuss how the looming US presidential election might affect de-dollarization.
Stephen and Audrey also touch on some key themes covered in their latest FX Deep Dive: ''De-Dollarization, FX Regionalization and the Yuan's Expansion'', including the role of gold as a factor in the de-dollarization debate. The deep dive can be found at BI CURR on the terminal.
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