Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) (BofA) analysts highlighted a shift in market sentiment, identifying long U.S. dollar positions as the most crowded trade, and now a significant headwind for the currency. This perspective aligns with BofA's recent reports on the U.S. dollar, emphasizing the stark contrast between current market positions and historical trends.
The analysts' findings indicate a growing apprehension among market participants regarding global inflation, particularly with a re-acceleration anticipated by 2025. Euro Area inflation expectations are notably visible, underscoring the broader concerns about inflationary pressures.
Additionally, while emerging market (EM) investors seem to have discounted the worst-case scenarios related to tariffs, the uptick in sentiment is perceived as tentative. The cautious stance of EM investors reflects the uncertainty and challenges in the global trade environment.
BofA's analysis suggests that the heavy positioning in favor of the U.S. dollar could be problematic. The report, dated January 14, 2025, points out that the extent of USD long positions is exceptional not only in a historical context but also when compared to the past year's trends.
Furthermore, the discrepancy between conviction and positioning is evident, as only a fifth of respondents consider long USD their highest conviction trade. This is despite 42% of those surveyed expecting the peak of 10-year U.S. Treasury yields to exceed 5%, as revealed in a separate exhibit from the bank's research.
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