The U.S. dollar edged lower on Friday as investors digested the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate President Donald Trump’s broad tariff measures. Despite the pullback, the greenback remained on track for its strongest weekly advance since November, supported by a more hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve and ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
As of 17:31 ET (22:31 GMT), the Dollar Index slipped 0.2% to 97.72, though it was still poised to post a weekly gain of around 1%, its best showing in nearly three months.
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement sweeping reciprocal tariffs. The president criticized the decision as “deeply disappointing” and indicated that tariffs would remain in effect through alternative legal channels, alongside a new 10% global levy.

According to Jeff Buchbinder of LPL Financial, removing the tariff overhang eliminates a drag on economic growth that had been expected to lift costs and pressure corporate margins. With that risk easing, growth may stabilize and inflation expectations embedded in bond markets could cool more quickly, potentially prompting a modest reassessment of Fed rate-cut expectations and weighing slightly on the dollar.
Even so, the dollar had attracted demand earlier in the week, underpinned by resilient U.S. economic data, hawkish Fed meeting minutes, and heightened Middle East tensions.
Friday’s data, however, delivered mixed signals. Core PCE — the Fed’s preferred inflation measure — rose 0.4% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year in December 2025, marking the highest annual reading since November 2023 and remaining well above the 2% target. Meanwhile, preliminary fourth-quarter GDP growth came in at 1.4%, falling short of the 2.8% consensus forecast.
In Europe, EUR/USD ticked up 0.1% to 1.1781, though the euro was still headed for a 0.7% weekly decline amid uncertainty surrounding ECB President Christine Lagarde’s tenure and softer German producer price data. Analysts at ING noted that while sentiment indicators such as the ZEW survey disappointed, the eurozone composite PMI is expected to stay above the 50 threshold, limiting downside pressure on the euro.
GBP/USD rose 0.1% to 1.3474, but sterling hovered near a one-month low and was set for a weekly loss of about 1.3%. Strong January retail sales — up 1.8% month-over-month and 4.5% year-over-year — failed to provide sustained support. ING analysts said markets are pricing in a Bank of England rate cut in March, with another possible move in June, while political risks continue to weigh on the pound.
In Asia, USD/JPY held steady at 155.06 after data showed Japan’s inflation slowed to 1.5% in January, slipping below the Bank of Japan’s target for the first time in nearly four years. Core inflation excluding fresh food and fuel also moderated, reinforcing uncertainty over the timing of the next rate hike. Separate data showed Japanese factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in over four years in February.
USD/CNY was unchanged at 6.9087, with Chinese markets closed. Meanwhile, AUD/USD climbed 0.5% to 0.70892, although the Australian dollar trimmed some gains after unemployment held at 4.1% in January, signaling a still-tight but gradually cooling labor market.
Sources: Anuron Mitra
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