🐂 Not all bull runs are created equal. November’s AI picks include 5 stocks up +20% eachUnlock Stocks

Dollar rises against rivals in risk-off trade

Published 03/22/2016, 06:43 AM
© Reuters.  Dollar gains ground as Brussels explosions dampen sentiment
EUR/USD
-
GBP/USD
-
USD/JPY
-
USD/CHF
-
AUD/USD
-
USD/CAD
-
NZD/USD
-
DX
-

Investing.com - The dollar rose against the other major currencies on Tuesday, as market sentiment waned amid security concerns after a series of explosions in Brussels killed at least a dozen people.

USD/JPY slid 0.32% to 111.59.

Safe-haven demand strengthened after more than a dozen people were killed in a series of explosions in Brussels on Tuesday morning, with two blasts at the airport and another at a metro station in the heart of the EU quarter an hour later.

EUR/USD fell 0.28% to trade at 1.1210.

The ZEW Centre for Economic Research said that its index of German economic sentiment rose to 4.3 this month from February’s reading of 1.0. Analysts had expected the index to rise to 5.0 in March.

However, the index of euro zone economic sentiment dropped to a 15-month low of 10.6 in March from 13.6 a month earlier, settling above forecasts for a reading of 8.2.

Separately, the German research institute Ifo said its Business Climate Index rose to 106.7 this month from a reading of 105.7 in February, above forecasts for 106.0.

Meanwhile, research group Markit said that its Flash Euro Zone Composite Output Index, which measures the combined output of both the manufacturing and service sectors rose from 53.0 in February to 53.7 in March, above forecasts for 53.0.

Markit earlier said that its German manufacturing PMI ticked down to 50.4 in March from 50.5 the previous month, while the services PMI rose to 55.5 this month from 55.3 in February.

In France, the manufacturing PMI fell to 49.6 in March from 50.2 the previous month, while the services PMI rose to 51.2 from 49.2.

The dollar was higher against the pound and the Swiss franc, with GBP/USD down 0.64% at 1.4280 and with USD/CHF adding 0.09% to 0.9710.

The U.K. Office for National Statistics reported on Tuesday that the rate of consumer price inflation rose by 0.3% last month, below forecasts for an increase of 0.4%. Month-over-month, consumer prices edged up 0.2% in February.

Core CPI, which excludes food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco costs rose by 1.2% last month, in line with forecasts and unchanged from January.

A separate report showed that public sector net borrowing in the U.K. rose by £6.49 billion in February, disappointing expectations for an increase of £5.25 billion.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar was stronger, with AUD/USD rising 0.22% to 0.7596, while NZD/USD slipped 0.28% to 0.6742.

Earlier Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said the house price index rose 0.2% in the fourth quarter, beating expectations for an uptick of 0.1%.

In addition, Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens said in a speech that Australia's economy was "adjusting quite well" to lower commodity prices and had more fiscal and policy scope to respond to a global downturn than most countries.

USD/CAD lost 0.26% to 1.3066.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was up 0.19% at 95.58.

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.