Exchange rates today 18/8/2026: USD softens globally while the Vietnamese dong strengthens against most majors

The global foreign exchange backdrop shows a modestly softer US dollar as the US Dollar Index sits at 99.93, dipping from 100.846 over the last 30 days. This softer greenback comes as traders reassess US rate expectations amid mixed macro signals. In the domestic market the Vietnamese dong remains resilient against the dollar, with quotes showing Buy 26,080 and Sell 26,460 VND per USD. The 1 day and 7 day references are largely unchanged at 26,460, while the 30 day reference sits near 26,490, suggesting a subtle strengthening of the dong against the USD over the month.

Macro level currency moves show the dong trading in a broad range versus key rivals with generally flat intraday lines. The major non USD crosses indicate stable quotes with small spreads. For example the Australian dollar is quoted Buy 18,099.38 and Sell 18,679.05; Canadian dollar Buy 18,418.97 and Sell 19,008.87; Swiss franc Buy 31,932.42 and Sell 32,955.12; Euro Buy 29,750.20 and Sell 31,005.51; UK pound Buy 34,709.43 and Sell 35,821.07; Hong Kong dollar Buy 3,288.22 and Sell 3,413.96. The pattern across currencies shows one day and seven day values largely identical for many pairs, while the 30 day references reveal mild drift, suggesting limited near term volatility in the dong relative to these currencies.

In terms of the spread between buy and sell quotes, the data indicate relatively wide margins typical for a developing market set against a basket of global currencies. The dong trades across a broad spectrum of majors and exotics with quotes such as the Australian dollar Buy 18,099.38 / Sell 18,679.05 and the euro Buy 29,750.20 / Sell 31,005.51, illustrating the general level of liquidity and the structural premium on cross rates. Notably, the 1 day lines are frequently identical to the 7 day lines, implying steady demand and supply conditions in the near term, while the 30 day references reveal only modest drift.

News highlights in the last 24 hours point to a softer USD tone alongside a cautious market mood. Reports indicate the USD in today’s coverage easing modestly, with local banks quoting the greenback around 26,400 VND in several updates. The media also notes mixed USD movements, with domestic coverage of gold prices and lending rate trends suggesting a stabilizing liquidity backdrop. For FX traders, the current data imply a gentle dong bias against the USD and a need to monitor external catalysts from US rate expectations and global risk sentiment.