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Yen steadies, dollar slips as China reaches for stimulus
  + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +3 min
Japanese 10,000 yen banknotes and U.S. one-hundred dollar banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Tokyo, Japan. The yen slipped about 0.4% to 142.75 per dollar after jumping 1.8% on Friday. European inflation data on Tuesday and Chinese data due later on Monday are also keenly awaited. The New Zealand dollar was up 0.3% at $0.6360 after hitting its highest since December on Friday. "The trend over next year or so is for the dollar to go down," said Commonwealth Bank of Australia strategist Joe Capurso.
Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Ishiba, Ray Attrill, Joe Capurso Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, NHK, Bank of Japan, National, New, New Zealand, U.S, U.S . Federal, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Tokyo, Japan, National Australia, China, U.S .
The dollar eased on Monday in the initial reaction to U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign, clearing the way for another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump. The dollar eased on Monday in the initial reaction to U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign, clearing the way for another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump. China's yuan was largely unfazed by the central bank's decision to cut a key interest rate. Biden announced he was exiting the race on Sunday, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic candidate in the November election. Former President Trump, the Republican nominee, sits well ahead in betting markets following Biden's disatrous debate performance last month and a surge in questions about his mental competence.
Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Biden, Kamala Harris, Trump, Joseph Capurso, Capurso, Harris Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Trump, British, People's Bank of China Locations: U.S
Dollar nurses losses after another set of soft jobs data
  + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +4 min
Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was trading at 155.39 yen , down from highs of 155.95 hit in the previous session. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, was flat at 105.25. "We note jobless claims are weekly data that can be very volatile from week to week," Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Joseph Capurso, said in a note. "The BoE's urgency and willingness to cut ahead of the Fed will continue to weigh on the currency," Goh said. Being added to the list makes it harder for U.S. suppliers to ship to the targeted entities.
Persons: Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Joseph Capurso, Shunichi Suzuki, Rong Ren Goh, Sterling, BoE, Goh Organizations: U.S, Federal Reserve, dovish Bank of England, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's, Tokyo, Japan's Finance, Eastspring Investments, Bank of England, Monetary, Committee, Fed, Treasury, Traders, PPI, Federal Locations: U.S, United States
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailECB unlikely to start cutting interest rates until June: StrategistJoseph Capurso of CBA says there are more signs of inflation retreating in the U.S. than in Europe, with euro zone inflation remaining "sticky".
Persons: Joseph Capurso Organizations: ECB, CBA Locations: U.S, Europe
Asian shares come off 11-month lows as Treasuries rally
  + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Asian shares rebounded from 11-month lows on Thursday as a plunge in oil prices and softer U.S. labour data helped pull Treasury yields off 16-year peaks, although a looming U.S. payrolls report could make or break the rally. Tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.6%. Ten-year yields eased 2 basis points to 4.7163% on Thursday, continuing their overnight retreat from a fresh 16-year high of 4.8840%. "Given where Treasury yields are at the moment, I think the risks are pretty evenly balanced between them on the downside and on the upside." Brent crude futures rose 0.3% to $86.10 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were also up 0.3% at $84.45.
Persons: Issei Kato, Stephen Miller, Joseph Capurso, Stella Qiu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, Fed, U.S ., Nasdaq, Traders, CBA, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Treasuries, Sydney
Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. China's onshore yuan slid to a 16-year low, under pressure from a property slump, weak consumer spending and shrinking credit growth in the world's second-largest economy. ONSHORE YUAN HIT 2007 LEVELSThe onshore yuan sank to 7.3296 per dollar, its weakest since December 2007. The Australian dollar was about flat at $0.6384, while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.3% at $0.5885, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows. “We see yuan staying under pressure (against the dollar) in the near term," said Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank.
Persons: Florence Lo, Kirstine Kundby, Joseph Capurso, Becky Liu, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Joice Alves, Rae Wee, Zhou, Sharon Singleton, Chizu Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, U.S ., Nielsen, Danske Bank, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Standard Chartered Bank, People's Bank of China, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, China's, Japan, Asia, Bank
Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.875 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. "Stronger-than-expected ISM services reaffirmed the U.S. outperformance narrative, adding broad support to the U.S. dollar," said Kirstine Kundby-Nielsen, analyst at Danske Bank. The onshore yuan slid to a fresh 10-month low of 7.3270 per dollar, not far from hitting a 16-year low. The Australian dollar was about flat at $0.6386, while the New Zealand dollar was up 0.2% at $0.5881, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.
Persons: Florence Lo, Kirstine Kundby, Joseph Capurso, Matt Simpson, Sterling, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Joice Alves, Rae Wee, Sharon Singleton Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, U.S ., Nielsen, Danske Bank, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Index, Bank of England, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, China's, Beijing, China, Bank, Japan, London, Singapore
Dollar shines as US economy outperforms, yen at 10-month low
  + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.875 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. That did little to help the Australian dollar , which was still down 0.15% at $0.6373, while the New Zealand dollar last bought $0.58735, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows. The offshore yuan fell marginally to 7.3255 per dollar, while its onshore counterpart was pinned near the previous session's 10-month low. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably."
Persons: Florence Lo, Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana, Rae Wee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, China's, Beijing, Asia, U.S, ASIA, Japan
Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The Japanese currency last bought 147.76 per dollar, having weakened past the closely-watched 145 threshold for nearly a month now. "Yen's verbal intervention begs the question whether a real intervention is likely," said Saxo market strategist Charu Chanana. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably." The Australian dollar slid 0.05% to $0.63795, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.01% to $0.5869, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.
Persons: Florence Lo, Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana, Rae Wee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Australian, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, U.S, ASIA, Japan
Dollar shines as U.S. economy outperforms, yen plumbs 10-month low
  + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +4 min
The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.865 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. The Japanese currency last bought 147.76 per dollar, having weakened past the closely-watched 145 threshold for nearly a month now. "Yen's verbal intervention begs the question whether a real intervention is likely," said Saxo market strategist Charu Chanana. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably." The Australian dollar slid 0.05% to $0.63795, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.01% to $0.5869, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.
Persons: Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana Organizations: greenback, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Australian, New Zealand Locations: Asia, U.S, Japan
U.S. bond investors nonetheless dialled back their bets of a rate hike in November and December following Powell's remarks, though Treasury yields traded near break-even by late morning. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was steady at 4.2314% and the two-year yield, which reflects interest rate expectations, rose to 5.0735%. "We've seen a back-off in ECB rate hike expectations. Boston Fed President Susan Collins said on Yahoo Finance's video channel that rates may be near or at a peak, "but certainly additional increments are possible." Tokyo consumer price data on Friday, which front-runs nationwide figures, showed inflation remained well above the Bank of Japan's target.
Persons: Toby Melville, Jerome Powell, Powell, David Sadkin, Dow Jones, Christine, Lagarde, Ben Laidler, Patrick Harker, Susan Collins, Shaun Osborne, Joseph Capurso, Kazuo Ueda, Jackson, Brent, Samuel Indyk, Kevin Buckland, Jacqueline Wong, Mark Potter, Chizu Nomiyama, Susan Fenton, Diane Craft, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Bel Air Investment Advisors, Nasdaq, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Philadelphia Fed, CNBC, Boston, Yahoo, U.S, Scotiabank, Bank of, Bank of Japan, CBA, West Texas, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S, Asia, Tokyo
If you're a bear, you heard him say we're going to be restrictive, and we might hike rates," said David Sadkin, president at Bel Air Investment Advisors. U.S. rates investors nonetheless dialled back their bets of a rate hike in November and December following Powell's remarks, though Treasury yields traded near break-even by late morning. "We've seen a back off in ECB rate hike expectations. Boston Fed President Susan Collins said on Yahoo Finance's video channel that rates may be near or at a peak, "but certainly additional increments are possible." Tokyo consumer price data on Friday, which front-runs nationwide figures, showed inflation remained well above the Bank of Japan's target.
Persons: Toby Melville, Jerome Powell, Powell, David Sadkin, Dow Jones, Christine, Lagarde, Ben Laidler, Patrick Harker, Susan Collins, Shaun Osborne, Joseph Capurso, Kazuo Ueda, Jackson, Brent, Samuel Indyk, Kevin Buckland, Jacqueline Wong, Mark Potter, Chizu Nomiyama, Susan Fenton Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Bel Air Investment Advisors, Nasdaq, European Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Philadelphia Fed, CNBC, Boston, Yahoo, U.S, Scotiabank, Bank of, Bank of Japan, CBA, West Texas, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S, Asia, Tokyo
Stocks swoon, dollar firms as Powell speech looms
  + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +5 min
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 15, 2023. Crude oil found its footing around one-month lows, but remained on course for a second weekly decline amid a firmer dollar and simmering China-centred worries about global growth. "However, there is also no real reason for Powell to strike a dovish tone," he added, "and that could mean an ugly end to the week for stocks, while the dollar shines." Against Japan's currency , the dollar edged tentatively back toward last week's nine-month high of 146.545, trading as strong as 146.21. In energy markets, crude prices rose slightly on Friday, but remained on track for weekly declines of between 1.5-2.5%.
Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jerome Powell, Jackson, Kazuo Ueda, Christine Lagarde, Powell, Matt Simpson, Simpson, Patrick Harker, Susan Collins, Joseph Capurso, Brent, Kevin Buckland, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Federal, People's Bank of, Bank, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Nvidia, Advantest, Fed, Boston Philadelphia Fed, CNBC, Yahoo, U.S, Bank of Japan, CBA, Treasury, West Texas, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, . U.S, China, People's Bank of China, Asia, Tokyo, Jackson
Traders also awaited policy decisions from the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) this week. FOCUS ON CENTRAL BANKSElsewhere, the ECB sets policy on Thursday. Again, a quarter point hike is widely expected, but building evidence of an economic slowdown has called into question the chances of another by year-end. The Australian dollar slid 0.4% to $0.6766 after slower-than-expected inflation data suggested the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would forgo a rate hike on Aug. 1. Money markets are split between a 25 basis point (bp) or a 50 bp rate hike.
Persons: Jerome, Powell, Joseph Capurso, Capurso, Sean Callow, Sterling, Kevin Buckland, Joice Alves, Mark Potter Organizations: Federal, Traders, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, U.S, Money, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, FOCUS, ECB, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, Westpac, U.S ., Bank of, Thomson Locations: LONDON, U.S, Beijing, China, Bank of England, Tokio, London
The Australian dollar slid after benign inflation data suggested the Reserve Bank of Australia would forgo a rate hike next week. The euro slipped 0.16% to $1.1042, bringing it close to the previous session's low of $1.1036, a level last seen on July 12. In the latest data, U.S. consumer confidence increased to a two-year high in July amid a persistently tight labor market and receding inflation. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank sets policy on Thursday. The dollar added 0.12% to 141.15 yen on Wednesday, following a rebound from a multi-week low of 137.245 mid-month.
Persons: Jerome, Powell, Joseph Capurso, Sean Callow, Kevin Buckland, Muralikumar Organizations: Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S, Federal, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ECB, Bank of Japan, Westpac, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Beijing, China
Dollar near two-week high as Fed decision looms, Aussie falls
  + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +3 min
The dollar hovered close to a two-week high versus the euro on Wednesday, while the yen consolidated near the middle of its range this month as traders awaited crucial policy decisions from the nations' central banks this week. The Australian dollar slid after benign inflation data suggested the Reserve Bank of Australia would forgo a rate hike next week. In the latest data, U.S. consumer confidence increased to a two-year high in July amid a persistently tight labor market and receding inflation. "If the ECB retain their hawkish bias, by no means guaranteed but more likely than the FOMC, euro is likely to track higher this week." The dollar added 0.12% to 141.15 yen on Wednesday, following a rebound from a multi-week low of 137.245 mid-month.
Persons: Jerome, Powell, Joseph Capurso, Sean Callow Organizations: Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S, Federal, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ECB, Bank of Japan, Westpac Locations: Beijing, China
Sterling takes a beating, dollar gains ground
  + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +3 min
U.S. dollar bills, British GDP and Euro currency bank notes are pictured on September 27, 2022 in Bath, England. Sterling was struggling to recover from a sharp fall on Thursday following U.K. inflation data that undershot market expectations, while the dollar regained its footing after a steep decline last week that analysts said was overblown. "The market I think is a bit more reasonable now with its expectations for rate hikes by the BoE. "We thought (the fall) was too strong, so it looks like the dollar has regained some of those losses," said Capurso. The Japanese yen rose 0.1% to 139.56 per dollar, while the Australian dollar was last 0.16% higher at $0.6782, ahead of the country's employment data later on Thursday.
Persons: Sterling, BoE, Joseph Capurso, Yannis Stournaras, Mel Siew Organizations: Bank of England, Traders, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Central Bank, U.S, Muzinich Locations: Bath, England, Asia, China
Aussie surges after strong jobs data; China's yuan jumps
  + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
"Ultimately, it's another strong set of employment figures which keeps the pressure on a data-dependant (Reserve Bank of Australia) to potentially hike rates in August." The offshore yuan last bought 7.1901 per dollar, while the onshore yuan strengthened past 7.18 per dollar to a session-high of 7.1620. RATES OUTLOOKIn the broader currency market, sterling was nursing deep losses after a sharp fall in the previous session following Britain's inflation data, which undershot market expectations. "The market I think is a bit more reasonable now with its expectations for rate hikes by the BoE. "We thought (the fall) was too strong, so it looks like the dollar has regained some of those losses," said CBA's Capurso.
Persons: David Gray, Matt Simpson, it's, Ken Cheung, BoE, Joseph Capurso, Yannis Stournaras, CBA's Capurso, Rae Wee, Sam Holmes, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Australian, New Zealand, Bank of Australia, prudential, U.S ., People's Bank of, Mizuho Bank, Bank of England, Traders, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Central Bank, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, SINGAPORE, China, Asia
After an initial rise, sterling fell as much as 0.56% against the dollar to a low of $1.2691 following this month's inflation figures. Investors and money managers now turn their focus to Fed chief Jerome Powell's testimony before Congress at 10:00 a.m. "The former may do more to give additional support to send the dollar index and (bond) yields higher." The rally against the yen pushed the U.S. dollar index , which measures the currency against six major peers, up slightly to 102.58. "The Aussie could dip below 0.6700 this week, particularly if Powell is hawkish," he said.
Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell's, Adam Cole, Kazuo Ueda, Tuesday's, Joe Capurso, Bitcoin, Charles Schwab, Tom Westbrook, Farouq Suleiman, Sam Holmes, Kim Coghill, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Federal, RBC Capital Markets, Bank of Japan, U.S, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Fidelity, Citadel Securities, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, LONDON, Asia, Pacific, China, Tokyo
Sterling briefly rose as far as 0.3% against the dollar to $1.2803 before settling back to $1.2765. It also rose slightly on the euro and yen , as traders were betting the Bank of England would need to take rates higher. Powell is due to begin his testimony before Congress at 1400 GMT. "The former may do more to give additional support to send the dollar index and yields higher." "The Aussie could dip below 0.6700 this week, particularly if Powell is hawkish," he said.
Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell's, Sterling, Tuesday's, Joe Capurso, steadying, Charles Schwab, Tom Westbrook, Sam Holmes, Kim Coghill Organizations: Federal, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Fed, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, U.S, Fidelity, Citadel Securities, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, China, Tokyo
Dollar finds footing on housing data as yuan falters
  + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
SummarySummary Companies U.S. housing starts surge; dollar drifts higherTraders await UK CPI and Powell testimonySINGAPORE, June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar was firm in Asia trade on Wednesday following surprisingly strong U.S. housing data, while the yuan and Aussie dollar nursed losses and focus turned to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's appearance before Congress later in the day. The yen was also firm at 140.50 per dollar ahead of an appearance by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Wednesday. The Aussie and yuan were Tuesday's largest losers and were in no mood for a bounce early on Wednesday. The yuan fell about 0.3% overnight and in offshore trade early on Wednesday the currency was pinned at 7.1826 per dollar, near a seven-month low. It is under pressure after the central bank flagged it was finished with hikes, while data showed the economy in recession.
Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell's, they'd, Kazuo Ueda, Li Qiang, Tuesday's, Joe Capurso, steadying, Mieneke Perniskie, Sterling, Daniela Hathorn, Bitcoin, Citadel Securites, Charles Schwab, Tom Westbrook Organizations: CPI, U.S, Federal, Traders, Bank of Japan, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Bank of England, Fidelity, Citadel, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, China, Europe, Kiwibank, Wellington
Those expectations kept risk sentiment buoyant, pinning the U.S. dollar near multi-week lows against the risk-sensitive Australia and New Zealand dollars. The euro gained 0.04% to $1.0760, with traders also focused on Thursday's interest rate decision from the European Central Bank, following its policy meeting. The U.S. dollar index edged marginally higher to 103.59, after falling to 103.24 on Monday, its lowest since May 23. "The central bank will likely continue to send a dovish message or one of no intention of policy change until it changes direction." In Asia, China's central bank cut its seven-day reverse repo rate by 10 basis points to 1.90% from 2.00% on Tuesday, sending the yuan falling in the offshore market .
Persons: Joseph Capurso, Jane Foley, Chong, Rae Wee, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S, Labor Department's CPI, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Rabobank, Bank of Japan, Standard Chartered Bank Korea, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Asia
Dollar dips ahead of U.S. inflation data, central bank meetings
  + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +3 min
Those expectations kept risk sentiment buoyant, pinning the U.S. dollar near multi-week lows against the risk-sensitive Australia and New Zealand dollars. The euro gained 0.04% to $1.0760, with traders also focused on Thursday's interest rate decision from the European Central Bank, following its policy meeting. The U.S. dollar index edged marginally higher to 103.59, after falling to 103.24 on Monday, its lowest since May 23. "The central bank will likely continue to send a dovish message or one of no intention of policy change until it changes direction." In Asia, China's central bank cut its seven-day reverse repo rate by 10 basis points to 1.90% from 2.00% on Tuesday, sending the yuan falling in the offshore market.
Persons: Joseph Capurso, Jane Foley, Chong Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S, Labor Department's CPI, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Rabobank, Bank of Japan, Standard Chartered Bank Korea Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Asia
The euro, meanwhile, dropped to a six-week low versus the dollar at $1.0811 . Wednesday's data showed that U.S. single-family homebuilding increased in April, but data for the prior month was revised sharply lower. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, rose 1.6% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 846,000 units last month. In late morning trading, the dollar rose 0.7% versus the yen to 137.37 yen, after earlier climbing to a two-week peak of 137.445 . In the offshore market, the dollar rose 0.2% to 7.00911 .
SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - The dollar rose on Wednesday, benefiting from its status as a safe-haven amid the risk of a U.S. debt default and as traders trimmed bets on imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts following solid consumer spending data in the United States. Against a basket of peers, including the euro, yen and sterling, the dollar index rose 0.3% to 102.96, to its highest since early April. Expectations for U.S. interest rate cuts any time soon were dampened by the solid increase in April consumer spending, and by comments from Fed officials. "A rate hike is possible this year, though the hurdle is high." The New Zealand dollar was broadly steady at $0.6232, with investors looking ahead to a 25 bp interest rate hike next week and perhaps one more after that.
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