Why 2006 is set to be a bad year for the dollar

The US Congress had no option but to agree for the fourth time since 2002 to raise the US debt ceiling, this time to $8.965 trillion. Minority leader, Harry Reid, said this was a result of reckless fiscal policy' and went on to suggest that there was little point in having a ceiling if all you do is keep raising it.

Of course, it had to be raised because the alternative would have been for the US to default on its foreign and domestic liabilities, unthinkable. We like the way Richard Russell reported this process: 'The government won't default, it will simply continue to do what it has been doingcreate more dollars to pay off its rising debts and deficits. It will continue to create dollars until the dollar becomes close to worthless and at that point either a new acceptable currency will come to the fore or a whole new system.'

The US trade deficit continues to rise. Now at about 7% of GDP, it is at Banana Republic' levels. The dollar is the world's most important reserve currency, but can only remain so if foreigners continue to take on board more dollars. Although of no more than symbolic importance, the United Arab Emirates has made a decision to switch 10% of its reserves out of the dollar as a response to the US rejection of Dubai Ports World as a potential owner of US ports.

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The dollar in technical terms continues to look very vulnerable, but what is more interesting is the decisive technical buy signal for the euro. We first reported this at the end of January 2006. That signal has now taken on a significant importance and makes sense as the eurozone plays catch up with its interest rates. We expect a very significant, positive move from the euro over the coming months.

Japan's decision to end quantative easing and the inevitability of higher Japanese interest rates will give considerable legs to the yen, which in turn will undermine the global carry-trade, already showing in very significant negative moves for certain currencies, such as the Icelandic krona and Australian and New Zealand dollar.

We appear to be on the edge of very significant currency volatility, which ought to be negative for the dollar and the pound. Not to forget, also very positive for gold bullion, fiat money's heir apparent and the ultimate insurance policy.

By John Robson & Andrew Selsby at RH Asset Management Limited, as published in the Onassis Newsletter, a fortnightly newsletter that gives insight into the investment markets.

For more from RHAM, visit https://www.rhasset.co.uk/