USD/CHF retreats below 1.0100 after advancing to 18-month highs

• Broad-based greenback strength lifts the pair higher on Monday.
• US Dollar Index sits comfortably above 97.

After starting the week around 1.0050 and staying quiet during the Asian session, the USD/CHF pair gained traction in the early European trading hours and rose to its highest level since May of 2017 at 1.0106. Following this upsurge, the pair had gone into a consolidation phase and was last seen trading at 1.0090, adding 0.35% on a daily basis.

Although there were no apparent catalysts that could have provided a boost to the greenback on Monday, the ongoing selling pressure surrounding major European currencies such as the euro and the British pound amid political concerns helped the buck find demand. After starting the day with a bullish gap, the US Dollar Index, which measures the USD's value against a basket of six major currencies, pushed higher to a fresh 17-month high at 97.58. At the moment, the index is up 0.47% on the day at 97.36.

With American investors enjoying the Veterans Day holiday on Monday, the pair is unlikely to make any sharp fluctuations in the remainder of the day. 

Technical levels to consider

The pair could face the initial support at 1.000 (parity/20-DMA) ahead of 0.9950 (Nov. 7 low) and 0.9870 (50-DMA/100-DMA). On the upside, resistances align at 1.0100/05 (psychological level/daily high), 1.0145 (Mar. 2, 2017, high) and 1.0170 (Mar. 7, 2017 high).