Dollar Crashes to 3-Year Low as Naira Appreciates against Pound, Euro, Others

Dollar Crashes to 3-Year Low as Naira Appreciates against Pound, Euro, Others

  • The US dollar has crashed to its lowest in three years against major global currencies, caused by Trump’s tariffs
  • Experts have said that the dollar took a major hit after Trump attacked Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chairman
  • However, the Nigerian currency, the naira, stayed strong against the euro despite the euro’s gain against the dollar

Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.

The US dollar fell on Monday, April 21, 2025, to its lowest since March 2022 as investor confidence in the US economy crashed.

Reports say the dollar declined due to President Donald Trump’s attacks on Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.

Dollar crashes against major global currencies as naira strengthens
The US dollar hits its lowest in three years amid Trump's tariff war with China. Credit: Picture Alliance/Contributor
Source: Getty Images

Dollar vs other currencies

Compared to other currencies, the dollar hit its lowest, trading at 97.923 on Monday, April 21, 2025.

It also crashed to a 10-year low against the Swiss franc, while the euro rose above $1.15, its highest since 2021.

Read also

CBN moves to stabilise market as naira continues dip against dollar

The British pound sterling appreciated to its highest since September 2024 at $1.34 against the dollar, while the Australian dollar rose to a four-month high of $0.6430.

Reuters reports that the New Zealand dollar moved up, trading at $0.6000 for the first time in over five months.

According to reports, Trump's social media attacks on Powell potentially threatened the Federal Reserve’s autonomy.

The US president had called Powell a major loser on social media and asked that he lower interest rates immediately.

Experts say that Trump’s tariffs and uncertainty over trade policies shocked global markets and darkened the outlook for the US, weakening the dollar as investors pull funds out of US assets.

Naira gains in official market

Meanwhile, the Nigerian currency, the naira, recorded a mixed performance in the FX market last week.

While the naira appreciated slightly against the dollar in the official market, closing at N1.599.94 per dollar on Thursday, up from N1.603.78, it depreciated significantly in the parallel market.

Read also

Trump's tariff storm a threat to dollar's dominance?

Naira steadies against euro

The naira also steadied against the euro, defying the European currency’s strong advance.

The naira showed resilience against the euro despite its one per cent gain against the dollar.

The development came after the euro/naira FX rate rose to N1,845 on Monday, April 21, 2025, climbing above the N1,800 ceiling.

Analysts attributed the movement to increased demand for euros amid global shocks caused by capital inflows and anxieties over Nigeria’s trade balance.

Naira: CBN intervenes to stabilise

Reports say investors flocked to the euro as a safer asset amid rising geopolitical tension between the US and China, marking a reversal of the dollar’s three-year dominance.

Experts have said the naira’s gain was due to robust FX interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Naira appreciates against USD, euro, and pound
Relief for Nigerians as naira steadies against the euro amid the dollar's crash. Credit: Novatis/Contributor
Source: Getty Images

CBN reportedly sold about $280 million to authorised dealers to stabilise the naira.

However, Nigeria’s external reserves have depreciated by $111.21 million to $37.89 billion as of April 16, 2025, the fifth consecutive weekly decline.

Read also

Naira bounces back, appreciates against US dollar in official market

Nigeria, China sign deal to reduce dollar dependence

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership had disclosed that Nigeria would soon ink a deal on Digital RMB with China to allow a direct conversion of naira to Chinese Yuan.

The digital renminbi (RMB) is a central bank digital currency issued by the Chinese apex bank, the People’s Bank of China.

The Director-General of the NCSP, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed that the deal was expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on the US dollar.

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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Pascal Oparada avatar

Pascal Oparada (Business editor) For over a decade, Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy. He has worked in many media organizations such as Daily Independent, TheNiche newspaper, and the Nigerian Xpress. He is a 2018 PwC Media Excellence Award winner. Email:pascal.oparada@corp.legit.ng

Kola Muhammed avatar

Kola Muhammed (Copyeditor) Kola Muhammed is an experienced editor and content strategist who has overseen content and public relations strategies for some of the biggest (media) brands in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has over 10 years of experience in writing and (copy)editing.