Trans-Atlantic Exchange Rate Report for July 26th – 31st

By: Matthew Natof, The Quinnipiac University Global Economics Research Team

Trans-Atlantic Currencies Index

 Source: Yahoo and own calculations. Exchange rates are inverted to be USD per local currency (i.e., an increase indicates a stronger domestic currency) and then indexed to be 100 at the start of the period.

From July 26th – 31st, the Trans-Atlantic currencies all ended the week negative. The Canadian dollar (CAD) held up best, rising to 0.17% by midweek before slipping back to close at -0.32%. The Swiss franc (CHF) swung the most, falling to -0.32% early in the week, climbing to 0.32% by July 29th, then dropping again to close at this week’s low of -0.95%. The euro (EUR) stayed flat for most of the week before falling sharply at the end, closing at -0.93%. The pound (GBP) rose steadily to 0.28% by midweek, then fell with the others to close at -0.70%.

Trans-Atlantic Historical Trends

Source: Eurostat and own calculations. Exchange rates are inverted to be USD per local currency (i.e., an increase indicates a stronger domestic currency. The center line is a rolling three-month average. The upper and lower boundaries are the average plus and average minus one standard deviation, respectively, for the same three-month period.

From July 26th – 31st, the Trans-Atlantic currencies moved around the Fed’s rate decision before settling lower. The Canadian dollar (CAD) kept climbing, ending the week above its band. The Swiss franc (CHF) hit a new low midweek, then bounced back above its lower bound by the end of the week. The euro (EUR) dropped below its band to a new low, then jumped back above it on the last day. The British pound (GBP) fell close to its lower bound before also bouncing back near its three-month average.

Additional Reading

Fed Rate Decision July 2026: Divided Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady

The article, published on July 29^th, explains that the Fed voted 9-3 to hold rates at 3.5%–3.75%, with three members wanting a hike instead. Rising oil prices and inflation worries tied to the Israel-Iran conflict kept investors cautious about future rate hikes, which helped push the dollar higher late in the week.