🤑 It doesn’t get more affordable. Grab this 60% OFF Black Friday offer before it disappears…CLAIM SALE

FOREX -Dollar inches higher after Fed curbs dovish enthusiasm

Published 26/06/2019, 11:16 am
© Reuters.  FOREX -Dollar inches higher after Fed curbs dovish enthusiasm
EUR/USD
-
USD/JPY
-
DX
-
CME
-
DXY
-

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

* Investors still expect Fed to cut rates in July

* U.S.-Iran tension supports yen

* Focus shifts to BoE inflation report, G20 summit

By Stanley White

TOKYO, June 26 (Reuters) - The dollar edged up from a three-month low on Wednesday, as investors dialled back expectations for aggressive U.S. rate cuts next month but broader conviction the Federal Reserve will need to ease policy soon capped greenback gains.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday stressed the central bank's independence from U.S. President Donald Trump, who is pushing for aggressive rate cuts. While this hosed down expectations for a half percentage point cut at the Fed's July meeting, investors are still expecting at least a quarter percentage point reduction. dollar index against a basket of currencies .DXY stood at 96.176 on Wednesday, just above a three-month low of 95.843 touched on Tuesday.

The yen traded near its highest versus the dollar in more than five months and is likely to edge higher as military tensions between the United States and Iran boost demand for safe-haven currencies.

However, trading is likely to subdued as the focus shifts to a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Group of 20 summit over the weekend, but expectations are low for a breakthrough that would end the dispute between the world's two-largest economies.

"The dollar's upside is heavy, particularly against the yen," said Junichi Ishikawa, senior foreign exchange strategist at IG Securities.

"Powell is worried about curbing excess expectations, but Treasury yields are clearly heading lower and U.S. economic data are not looking great. A rate cut in July is a done deal."

Interest rate futures traders are now pricing in a 33% chance of a 50 basis point cut at the Fed's July meeting, down from 38% earlier, while a cut of at least 25 basis points is seen as certain, according to the CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch Tool. FEDWATCH

Despite the slight moderation in Fed cut hopes, benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields slipped below 2% due to worries about a prolonged U.S.-China trade war.

The U.S. currency was little changed at 107.16 yen JPY= after falling to 106.77 yen, its lowest since its flash crash in early January.

The euro EUR= traded at $1.1367, pulling back slightly from a three-month high of $1.1412.

The British pound GBP=D4 traded at $1.2690, stuck near a session low before the Bank of England publishes its closely-watched quarterly inflation forecasts later on Wednesday.

The BoE has said rates would need to rise in a gradual fashion as long as Britain avoids a no-deal exit from the European Union.

However, sterling remains dogged by concerns that eurosceptic Boris Johnson will become Britain's next prime minister, increasing the chance of a no-deal Brexit. (Editing by Sam Holmes)

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.