What Is the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index (BBDXY)?
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index (BBDXY) measures the value of the U.S. dollar against a basket of 10 global currencies. These currencies are chosen based on how much they're traded and how liquid they are in the market.
Unlike other dollar indices—yes, we’re looking at you, DXY—the BBDXY is updated annually to reflect the latest trends in global trade and currency markets.
Why Bloomberg Says It's Better Than DXY
The BBDXY was launched on December 31, 2004, with a base value of 1000. What sets it apart is how it selects and weights currencies:
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More realistic currency mix: It includes both developed and emerging market currencies that are major U.S. trading partners.
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Less euro-heavy: Unlike DXY, which is heavily skewed toward the euro, BBDXY spreads its exposure more evenly.
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Annual updates: Each year, Bloomberg reevaluates which currencies to include and how much weight they should carry, based on trade volumes and liquidity.
Key Differences: BBDXY vs. DXY
| Feature | BBDXY | DXY |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Currencies | 10 | 6 |
| Type of Currencies | Developed + Emerging | Developed only |
| Rebalancing | Annually | Rarely |
| Weighting | Based on trade + liquidity | Fixed |
| Dominance | Balanced | Euro-heavy |
DXY has used the same basket since 1973—yes, really. That includes Sweden, which today barely registers on U.S. trade radars. BBDXY, on the other hand, evolves with the global economy.
How the BBDXY Basket Is Selected
Each year, Bloomberg follows a systematic approach:
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Trade volume: The top 20 U.S. trading partners are identified using Federal Reserve data.
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Liquidity: The top 20 most traded currencies are taken from the BIS Triennial FX survey.
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Cross-reference: Bloomberg selects the top 10 currencies from both lists—excluding those pegged to the dollar.
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Weighting:
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Currencies are assigned weights based on trade and liquidity.
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Any currency with a weight below 2% is excluded.
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The Chinese yuan is capped due to capital controls.
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Once the weights are finalized, they go into effect after the last U.S. trading day in December.
Fun fact: currencies like the Brazilian real and Singapore dollar have been included in the past but were dropped as their relevance faded. BBDXY likes to keep things current.
Where to View the BBDXY
If you have a Bloomberg Terminal®, just type BDXY to see it live. But if you don’t have $20,000 to spare annually, you can still check it for free:
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Visit the Bloomberg BBDXY page
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There, you’ll see real-time quotes and can click to view full charts.
You can also check the ICE Dollar Index (DXY) on Bloomberg for comparison.