The US Dollar Index was largely steady around 97.8 on Friday, rebounding from an early pullback after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's reciprocal tariffs. The ruling initially pressured the greenback by removing a potential inflationary tailwind, but the dollar soon found support when Trump responded by pledging to sign an executive order imposing a new 10% global tariff.
This rapid return to a protectionist stance helped counter the negative impact of a weaker-than-expected Q4 GDP reading of 1.4%, which underscored the economic drag from the government shutdown and existing trade duties. Downside in the dollar was further contained by persistently firm December core PCE inflation at 3%, bolstering expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep policy in restrictive territory.
Despite the legal setback for the White House, the combination of renewed prospects for broad-based tariffs and ongoing price pressures allowed the index to hold its ground. The dollar remains poised for a weekly gain as investors weigh the potential for tariff refunds against the administration’s clear commitment to maintaining tougher trade barriers.
