US Dollar Index – Temporary Relief Before Further Downside?

The US Dollar Index continues to trade under structural pressure on the daily chart, following the strong downside impulse that broke November’s value area and pushed price into a key weekly demand zone around 97.90–97.30. After a clear momentum swing lower, the index is now showing early signs of corrective strength, but the broader context continues to favor weakness into year-end.
On the technical side, price has reacted from support and is attempting a corrective retracement toward the 98.75–99.00 supply zone. This zone aligns with:
– Daily bearish trendline resistance
– A fresh Fair Value Gap (FVG)
– Previous structure imbalance
If price completes this pullback, the zone provides a high-probability region for bearish continuation targeting new lows into 97.50–97.20. The RSI remains below the midline, indicating momentum has not fully shifted to the upside and that current strength is corrective, not impulsive.
Seasonality reinforces this bearish narrative. December historically records negative averages in the Dollar Index across virtually every timeframe. The 20-year average in particular shows strong downward pressure late in the month, with typical weakness accelerating into year-end. Current price action is consistent with this seasonal pattern.
From a positioning standpoint, the latest COT report shows Non-Commercial traders significantly net short, with shorts sitting at 28,652 vs. longs at 14,778. This imbalance continues to reflect confidence in downside continuation. At the same time, the Commercial category reduced long exposure and increased shorts, adding further weight to bearish bias. The aggregate positioning structure is clearly aligned with the existing downtrend.
Overall, the Dollar Index remains structurally bearish. A final upside correction into the 98.75–99.00 supply zone could precede the next leg lower. Only a clean break and close above 99.20 would weaken the bear case and signal a potential shift in directional bias. Until then, rallies remain sell-side opportunities.