Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

FOREX-Commodity currencies hold advantage as dollar waits for inflation and Fed

Published 2021-05-10, 08:31 p/m
Updated 2021-05-10, 08:36 p/m
© Reuters.

© Reuters.

* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

* Commodity price gains lift exporters' currencies

* Dollar bides time before U.S. CPI and Fed speakers

* Sterling continues stellar run as coronavirus risks fade

By Stanley White

TOKYO, May 11 (Reuters) - The dollar nursed losses against the currencies of major commodity exporters which enjoyed support from expectations for further gains in the price of oil, copper, steel, and other metals.

Traders are keenly awaiting the release of U.S. consumer price data on Wednesday to measure whether inflationary pressure is building, which could push Treasury yields higher and slow the dollar's fall, some traders say.

Treasuries and the dollar have swung back and forth as investors adjust their expectations for when the U.S. Federal Reserve will start tapering bond purchases and raising interest rates as the U.S. economy gains momentum.

A host of Fed speakers this week are likely to leave investors with plenty to consider as they try to forecast how policymakers will react to receding risks posed by the coronavirus in some major economies.

"Right now the easiest reflation trade is to watch commodity prices and buy commodity currencies," said Yukio Ishizuki, foreign exchange strategist at Daiwa Securities.

"The markets have doubts about the Fed's benign view of inflation, but uncertainty about policy keeps some currency pairs in a tight range."

Against the Canadian dollar CAD=D3 , the U.S. dollar traded at C$1.2097, close to its weakest in more than three years.

The Australian dollar AUD=D3 edged up to $0.7836, near an 11-week high. Across the Tasman Sea, the New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 was quoted at $0.7267, which is near its strongest level since late February.

The greenback was also near a two-week low against the Mexican peso MXN= .

Many investors expect commodities demand to surge as coronavirus vaccinations allow more countries to resume normal economic activity.

In addition, supply constraints for some commodities suggest that prices could remain elevated for an extended period, which has made some commodity currencies the best performers against the dollar so far this year.

Investors are also focused on how the U.S. labour market will affect inflation in the world's largest economy, but a disappointing nonfarm payrolls report last week has left the dollar mixed against other currencies.

The British pound GBP=D3 bought $1.4130, close to its strongest since Feb. 25 as investors cheered Britain's progress in reopening its economy.

The euro EUR=D3 edged up to $1.2137.

Against the yen JPY=D3 , the dollar was flat at 108.87.

In the cryptocurrency market, ether ETH=BTSP was quoted at $3,906, down slightly from a record high of $4,200. Bigger rival bitcoin BTC=BTSP fell slightly to $55,578.

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

Currency bid prices at 0006 GMT Description

RIC

Last

U.S. Close Pct Change

YTD Pct

High Bid

Low Bid

Previous

Change

Session

Euro/Dollar

EUR=EBS

$1.2137

$1.2128

+0.07%

-0.67%

+1.2143

+1.2127 Dollar/Yen

JPY=EBS

108.8700

108.8400

+0.00%

+5.37%

+108.8800 +108.8100 Euro/Yen

132.00

+0.10%

+4.10%

+132.1600 +132.0000

S>

Dollar/Swiss

CHF=EBS

0.9009

0.9012

-0.06%

+1.80%

+0.9011

+0.9006 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3

1.4130

1.4117

+0.10%

+3.43%

+1.4132

+1.4115 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3

1.2097

1.2103

-0.04%

-4.99%

+1.2104

+1.2091 Aussie/Dollar

AUD=D3

0.7836

0.7830

+0.08%

+1.87%

+0.7842

+0.7830 NZ

NZD=D3

0.7267

0.7262

+0.08%

+1.20%

+0.7272

+0.7261 Dollar/Dollar

All spots FX= Tokyo spots AFX= Europe spots EFX= Volatilities FXVOL= Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates

https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

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.