US dollar set for best weekly gain since mid-January, yen eases ahead of BOJ next week By Reuters
Breaking News
‘;
Published Mar 15, 2024 01:47
Updated Mar 15, 2024 17:38
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and Iain Withers
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) -The dollar rose to a more than one-week high on Friday after a mixed batch of data showed the U.S. economy remained stable with small pockets of weakness, suggesting the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates higher for longer or reduce the number rate cuts this year.
{{2126|The dodollar index, which tracks the U.S. currency against six major peers, was on pace to post a weekly gain of 0.7%, the largest since mid-January. The index was last flat at 103.41.
Data on Friday showed a solid U.S. manufacturing sector, with output rebounding by 0.8% last month after a downwardly revised 1.1% decline in the prior month. Analysts at Citi, however, said in a research note the rebound in February partly reflects the revisions lower to January output and the reversal of a “weather-related drag in January in non-durable goods manufacturing sectors.”
U.S. consumer sentiment and inflation expectations were little changed in March, a survey showed on Friday. The University of Michigan’s preliminary reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 76.5 this month, compared to a final reading of 76.9 in February.
The survey’s reading of one-year inflation expectations, a measure tracked by the Fed, were unchanged at 3.0% in March. The survey’s five-year inflation outlook held steady as well at 2.9% for the fourth straight month.
The Fed is scheduled to meet next week and while it is not expected to make any interest rate moves, hotter-than-expected U.S. producer and consumer price data this week led traders to rein in bets on future cuts.
“The focus next week is on the Fed dots,” said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex, referring to the Fed’s interest rate forecasts.
“(Fed Chair Jerome) Powell has already told us that as the quarter progresses, the old dot plot, which showed three rate cuts this year, becomes less relevant. It’s more likely that it shows fewer cuts than more, and could mean the Fed cuts two times rather than three.”
The rate futures market on Friday has priced in a 57% chance of the Fed cutting rates in June, compared to 71% on Monday, according to LSEG’s rate probability app. The market has also reduced the number of rate cuts it expects this year to less than three, from between three and four earlier this year.
Investors are also looking to the highly-anticipated meeting at the Bank of Japan next week.
Japan’s biggest companies agreed with labour unions to raise wages by the highest level in 33 years on Friday, reinforcing views the country’s central bank is poised to make a landmark shift away from negative interest rates.
The dollar continued to rise against the yen, up 0.5% at 149.045. On the week, the greenback rose 1.3%, on track for its biggest gain since mid-January.
The BOJ is close to ending eight years of negative interest rate policy, with internal preparations for an exit in the works since Kazuo Ueda took office as BOJ governor.
Investors are also watching other central bank decisions for signs of how quickly they will cut interest rates after a period of rapid rises to curb rampant inflation. The Bank of England and Swiss National Bank are also due to meet next week.
The euro was flat at $1.0882. The European Central Bank council last week began a discussion on when to reduce its own rates, council member Olli Rehn said on Friday.
Sterling slipped 0.1% to $1.2737.
In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin prices slipped as much as 7% in volatile trade from a record high touched on Thursday as risk sentiment took a hit. It was last down 3.5% at $68,198.
US dollar set for best weekly gain since mid-January, yen eases ahead of BOJ next week
Most Popular Articles
Terms And Conditions
Privacy Policy
Risk Warning
Do not sell my personal information
© 2007-2024 Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
Comments