The USD/CHF pair stays in a sideways profile below the round-level resistance of 0.8800 in the European session. The Swiss Franc asset struggles to find direction despite lower-than-expected growth in the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for July. Monthly inflation grew at a 0.2% pace, in alignment with Federal Reserve’s (Fed) desired rate of 2%. The US Dollar Index (DXY) is aiming to resume its upside journey after a sideways performance ahead of US Producer Price Index (PPI) data. The market mood turns cautious as US President Joe Biden authorized to ban some investments in China in some sensitive technologies in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and certain artificial intelligence systems.
USD/CHF traded directionless from the past week despite slower growth in the US inflation. The major turned sideways after a firmer rally after climbing above the horizontal resistance plotted from July 24 high at 0.8700, which turned into support now. The asset oscillates in a range of 0.8700-0.8783, which indicates volatility contraction. The pair makes efforts to maintain an auction above the 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 0.8760. Momentum oscillator Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14) trades inside the 40.00-60.00, indicating a volatility squeeze. Going forward, a decisive break above August 2 high at 0.8806 will drive the asset towards April 26 low at 0.8852, followed by June 16 low around 0.8900. In an alternate scenario, a downside move below August 10 low at 0.8690 would drag the asset toward July 17 high at 0.8630 and July 27 low at 0.8552.