US shutdown compounds worst year for currency trading since 2005

US Shutdown Deepens Challenges for Currency Trading

WASHINGTON – The longest US government shutdown on record is contributing to the worst year for currency traders in decades. A lack of published economic data has obscured forecasts for the US dollar.

Impact on Foreign Exchange Market

According to the BarclayHedge index, foreign-exchange investors are projected to experience their poorest annual results since 2005. The slowdown was evident even before the data freeze affected Wall Street.

Consequences for Traders and Strategies

Traders have become more cautious, refraining from making large wagers on the dollar's direction. Quantitative funds relying on computer-driven models face reduced access to reliable data, delaying updates to strategic forecasts.

"Foreign exchange volatility has fallen well below long-term averages – a far cry from the wild swings sparked by US President Donald Trump’s global tariff announcement in April."

Summary

The prolonged US government shutdown restricts vital economic data, causing currency traders to face their toughest year since 2005 amid reduced market volatility and cautious betting.

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The Straits Times The Straits Times — 2025-11-07