U.S. Dollar Index Holding Steady After Fed Holds Rates, But Powell Still Looms

News Editor • Mar 18, 2026 at 2:30 PM EDT

The U.S. Dollar Index held steady, albeit with a slight jostle after the Fed held its main reference rate steady, as expected.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) is trading mostly in place on Wednesday, cycling quickly in place after the Federal Reserve (Fed) delivered a widely-anticipated interest rate hold. The Fed's Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) showed an equally-middling picture, with the Fed's dot plot of rate expectations shuffling slightly near the 3.0% mark but policymakers seeing a slight uptick in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2026.

Up next, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver his second-last post-rate call press conference before his term at the head of the Fed expires mid-May.

DXY 15-minute chart

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