WASHINGTON, Nov 8 — Euro and sterling rose against the safe-haven dollar yesterday, supported by a risk-on sentiment across markets as investors digested positive euro zone data and looked to cash in on the strength of the US currency.
A survey showed yesterday that investor morale in the euro zone improved in November, the first time it rose in three months, reflecting hopes that recent warmer temperatures and falling energy prices will prevent gas rationing on the continent this winter.
The euro was up 0.69 per cent to US$1.0029, its highest level since October 27, while sterling was last trading at US$1.1534, up 1.40 per cent on the day.
Investors were also cheered by a readout yesterday showing that German industrial production grew in September, beating analyst expectations. Industrial output was up 0.6 per cent on the previous month, the Federal Statistical Office said.
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar index fell 0.91 per cent to 110.070.
Though it had lost almost 2 per cent at the end of last week after reports that China would make substantial changes to its Covid-19 policy in coming months, the downward move in the dollar yesterday was likely more about positioning, said Bipan Rai, North America head of FX Strategy at CIBC Capital Markets.
“I think the market’s got really long US dollars, and is now just taking profits here. That’s behind the move for today,” he said.
Investors were also assessing Friday’s US jobs report which showed that firms added a more-than-expected 261,000 jobs in October and hourly wages continued to rise, evidence of a still-tight labour market.
But hints of some easing of market conditions, with the unemployment rate rising to 3.7 per cent, fuelled hopes that the much sought-after Federal Reserve pivot could be on the horizon, capping potential gains for the dollar.
Four Fed policymakers on Friday also indicated they would still consider a smaller interest rate hike at their next policy meeting.
Investors are now eagerly waiting for a readout of US consumer price index data on Thursday. Analysts surveyed by Reuters expect headline CPI to land at an annual 8 per cent for October, down slightly from 8.2 per cent in September.
“If we do get a stronger than expected print, I think the release valve there will be for a higher terminal rate in the United States, and ultimately, that’s going to matter for the dollar,” said Rai.
In crytocurrencies, bitcoin last fell 1.41 per cent to US$20,837.00 and ethereum last fell 2.76 per cent to US$1,600.30. — Reuters
