📈 69% of S&P 500 stocks beating the index - a historic record! Pick the best ones with AI.See top stocks

Dollar slides as investors balance positions ahead of U.S. inflation data

Published 09/08/2022, 09:03 PM
Updated 09/09/2022, 03:56 PM
DX
-

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The dollar fell to a more than one-week low on Friday as investors consolidated gains after a sharp rise against most currencies, ahead of a U.S. inflation report that could determine the size of the Federal Reserve's rate hike at this month's policy meeting.

On the week, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback's value against six major peers, posted its first weekly fall in four on Friday.

"Markets are getting a little nervous about levels, really historic levels, so the market decided not to push the dollar's strength at this juncture and lightened up positions," said Greg Anderson, global head of FX strategy, at BMO Capital Markets in New York.

"Probably position-taking will be light until the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting. The market looked at everything overnight and decided that this is a good juncture to square up and that process has brought the dollar lower. But this is not a reversal of the trend on dollar strength," he added.

The greenback this week soared to a 24-year high against the yen, a 37-year peak versus sterling, wit the dollar index surging to a more than 20-year high.

On Friday, the dollar index dropped as low as 108.35 and was last down 0.5% at 108.96.

U.S. rate futures are pricing in an 87% chance of the Fed hiking by 75 bps hike this month, with fresh U.S. consumer price data next week likely to be closely watched.

Capital Economics expects the CPI to continue to edge lower.

"We think falling inflation in the U.S. is consistent with our view that the backdrop remains favorable for the dollar, as it stands to benefit from higher real rates while the global economy slows," wrote Jonathan Petersen, Capital Economics senior markets economist wrote in its latest research note.

One of the big gainers was the euro, which leapt as much as 1.2% to a three-week high of $1.0114, a day after the European Central Bank raised its key interest rate by an unprecedented 75 basis points (bps).

It was last up 0.5% at $1.0045.

Europe still faces a weak economic outlook, with sky-high energy prices squeezing consumers and businesses. European Union energy ministers were split on Friday over whether to cap Russian gas prices, as they met to work out steps to shield citizens.

Currencies perceived as riskier bets also benefited from an improvement in market sentiment to end the week, reflected in gains across European and U.S. stock markets.

Sterling gained 0.8% to $1.1592, after a modest dip the previous day following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

The Bank of England said on Friday it would delay its next monetary policy meeting by one week due to the period of royal mourning.

The Japanese yen posted its best daily gain in a month, up 1% at 142.675 yen per dollar, as it clawed away from recent 24-year lows.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Friday rapid yen moves were undesirable after a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The Australian dollar also had its best daily rise in a month, up 1.3% versus the U.S. dollar to US$0.6850, also rebounding from deep lows.

Even beaten down cryptocurrencies advanced at the dollar's expense, with bitcoin up more than 10% at $21,300.

========================================================

Currency bid prices at 3:31PM (1931 GMT)

Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid

Previous Change

Session

Dollar index 108.9700 109.5200 -0.48% 13.910% +109.5400 +108.3500

Euro/Dollar $1.0045 $0.9999 +0.48% -11.63% +$1.0114 +$0.9993

Dollar/Yen 142.7150 144.1100 -0.96% +23.98% +144.1000 +141.5050

Euro/Yen 143.36 144.06 -0.49% +10.01% +144.7200 +142.6500

Dollar/Swiss 0.9608 0.9704 -0.98% +5.33% +0.9702 +0.9548

Sterling/Dollar $1.1591 $1.1498 +0.82% -14.29% +$1.1647 +$1.1499

Dollar/Canadian 1.3030 1.3092 -0.48% +3.05% +1.3094 +1.2982

Aussie/Dollar $0.6842 $0.6751 +1.36% -5.87% +$0.6877 +$0.6748

Euro/Swiss 0.9649 0.9701 -0.54% -6.92% +0.9727 +0.9634

Euro/Sterling 0.8663 0.8688 -0.29% +3.15% +0.8707 +0.8660

NZ $0.6104 $0.6056 +0.83% -10.79% +$0.6152 +$0.6055

Dollar/Dollar

Dollar/Norway 9.9150 10.0530 -1.39% +12.53% +10.0410 +9.8455

Euro/Norway 9.9593 10.0394 -0.80% -0.54% +10.0551 +9.9442

© Reuters. U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Dollar/Sweden 10.6195 10.7038 -0.32% +17.76% +10.7093 +10.5194

Euro/Sweden 10.6630 10.6971 -0.32% +4.19% +10.7128 +10.6290

Latest comments

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.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.