US dollar's 10% fall in H1FY25 is its worst since 1973: Report

Economic Times

7 hours ago

The dollar's sharp decline puts it on course for the the weakest showing over any six months since 2009.
The US dollar has slumped over 10% in H1 2025, marking its worst first-half performance since 1973. Weighed down by Trump-era economic policies, rising US debt, and investor unease, the greenback's safe-haven status is under pressure. The dollar index (DXY) has fallen from a 52-week high of 110 to around 97.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
How have other currencies performed?
The US dollar dropped over 10% in the first half of 2025 — its worst H1 performance since 1973 — as global investors weigh the impact of President Donald Trump's economic policies and remain uncertain about holding exposure to the world's dominant currency.The dollar index (DXY) which measures the strength of greenback against six major currencies including euro, Swiss franc, Japanese yen and British pound is hovering near the 97 mark. In 2025, so far it has declined by 10.4%. From a 52-week peak of 110, the fall has been to the tune of 13%.A Financial Times report said that the fall reflects the worst start to the year since the end of the gold-backed Bretton Woods system. The dollar's sharp decline puts it on course for its worst first half of the year since a 15 per cent loss in 1973 and the weakest showing over any six months since 2009, the report said.Also read: Reliance Power extends winning streak, up 13% in 5 sessions. What's fueling the surge? This system was a global monetary framework established in July 1944 at a conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. It created a system of fixed exchange rates, with the US dollar at the centre.Trump's start-pause tariff war, differences with the Federal Reserve, and US' rising debt is undermining the safe haven appeal of the dollar for investors, Francesco Pesole, an FX strategist at ING said, while noting that the dollar has become the "whipping boy of Trump 2.0's erratic policies'.The currency was down 0.2% on Monday as the US Senate prepared to begin voting on amendments to Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax bill.The legislation, which is being described as a landmark by the Trump administration, is expected to add $3.2 trillion to the US debt pile over the coming decade, the FT report said. It has already fuelled concerns over the sustainability of Washington's borrowings, sparking an exodus from the US Treasury market.Also read: Raymond Realty's debut sparks 15% rally in parent Raymond, 16% in lifestyle arm Against the Wall Street banks' prediction of fall, the euro has risen 13% to above $1.17 as investors have focused on growth risks in the world's biggest economy — while demand has risen for safe assets elsewhere, such as German bonds. The euro was estimated to fall to parity with the dollar this year.USD has appreciated about a 7–8% against JPY while the British pound has gained nearly 3% against the dollar.