Currencies January 20, 2026

UBS Projects Gradual Rise of EUR/USD to 1.20 Mark Amid Dollar Softening

Swiss bank forecasts euro-dollar pairing to stabilize after reaching new threshold, highlighting geopolitical and policy influences

By Marcus Reed
UBS Projects Gradual Rise of EUR/USD to 1.20 Mark Amid Dollar Softening

UBS forecasts the EUR/USD exchange rate will gradually ascend toward 1.20 over the coming months, eventually stabilizing at that level. The Swiss bank's outlook points to a weakening U.S. dollar relative to the euro, driven by a balance of economic factors across Europe and the U.S., with key risks centered on geopolitical events and Federal Reserve actions.

Key Points

  • UBS anticipates the EUR/USD exchange rate will rise to 1.20 and then stabilize, based on current economic dynamics.
  • Economic factors across Europe and the U.S. have kept EUR/USD trading within a narrow 1.15 to 1.19 band recently.
  • Potential upward triggers include geopolitical events and Federal Reserve policy decisions, while stronger U.S. economic growth poses downside risk.
In its latest currency outlook, UBS projects the EUR/USD exchange rate will steadily approach the 1.20 level in the near term before settling there. According to a report published Monday by the Swiss financial institution, the pair has been confined mostly within the 1.15 to 1.19 range for several months. UBS attributes this constrained trading band to a balance between positive and negative economic influences on both sides of the Atlantic, effectively neutralizing each other recently.

The bank’s analysts reaffirm their stance that the U.S. dollar is poised to weaken against the euro. This trend is expected to nudge the EUR/USD currency pair upward until it reaches and maintains the 1.20 threshold. UBS identified possible factors that could further propel the exchange rate beyond this predicted target. Among these, geopolitical developments and decisions related to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stand out as potential upside catalysts.

Conversely, the UBS report also highlights downside risks that could challenge the forecast. In particular, a scenario where U.S. economic growth outperforms expectations could lead to the EUR/USD dropping below the current 1.15 support level, which has remained firm throughout recent trading periods.

This balanced perspective reflects the complexities surrounding currency markets where economic data, geopolitical considerations, and central bank policies interact dynamically. UBS’s forecast provides insight into how these forces might shape the euro-dollar exchange rate trajectory in the months ahead.

Risks

  • Geopolitical developments could cause increased volatility, potentially pushing EUR/USD above projected levels, impacting currency and financial markets.
  • Federal Reserve policy changes remain a significant source of uncertainty influencing exchange rate movements, affecting import-export and investment sectors.
  • Should U.S. economic growth exceed forecasts, the euro-dollar pair might fall below 1.15, undermining stability and affecting international trade and finance sectors.

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