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

FOREX-Dollar gains on cooling risk appetite, weak stocks

Published 10/22/2009, 08:10 AM
Updated 10/22/2009, 08:12 AM
EBAY
-
SEBF
-

* Dollar up broadly, pulls away from 14-month low vs euro

* Weaker stocks cool risk demand, but dlr gains seen limited

* Riskier FX hit; Swedish crown falls on Riksbank decision

(Adds comment, updates prices; changes byline)

By Jessica Mortimer

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The dollar rose broadly on Thursday, recovering from 14-month lows versus the euro and a currency basket as weaker corporate earnings and falls in equity and commodity markets dampened investor appetite for risk.

Commodity-linked currencies such as the Australian, Canadian and New Zealand dollars fell, coming off recent multi-month highs versus the U.S. dollar as European shares and oil prices lost more than 1 percent.

Disppointing earnings from eBay Inc on Wednesday were compounded on Thursday by below-forecast results from Ericsson, cooling some of the recent optimism about prospects for a global economic recovery.

"Dollar strength fits with lower risk appetite and falling stock markets," said Johan Javeus, SEB currency strategist in Stockholm.

"Currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars have had a good run over the last few weeks and this is a good opportunity to take some profit," he added.

Earlier, the U.S. dollar had also benefited from Chinese growth data. Although growth accelerated the numbers disappointed some in the market who had expected even stronger expansion, prompting selling in higher-yielding currencies.

But the dollar stayed not far from multi-month lows, with the euro just below the $1.50 level it scaled on Wednesday, and analysts expect its downtrend to resume on the view that U.S. interest rates will stay low while the global economy improves.

By 1146 GMT, the dollar had gained 0.4 percent against a basket of currencies to 75.258, pulling back from a 14-month low of 74.940 touched the previous day.

The euro was down 0.1 percent on the day at $1.4997, though it was still within sight of $1.5047 hit on Wednesday, its strongest since August 2008.

"The euro's proximity to $1.50 suggests that the market is not taking the current correction as too serious," said Michael Klawitter, senior currency strategist at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

Among riskier currencies, the Australian dollar fell 0.4 percent to $0.9229, the New Zealand dollar lost 0.5 percent to $0.7549 while the U.S. dollar gained 0.6 percent against its Canadian counterpart to C$1.0490.

Sterling also fell against the dollar and the euro, stalling a dramatic rally in the past nine days, after UK retail sales showed no growth in September, confounding expectations for a rise.

RIKSBANK HOLDS RATES

The Swedish crown lost ground after the country's central bank held interest rates at a record low 0.25 percent and forecast they would stay near zero for another year

The decision was broadly expected, but analysts said there was some surprise at its move to pump another 100 billion Swedish crowns ($14.5 billion) into banks with 11-month fixed-rate loans.

SEB's Javeus said one reason behind the crown's fall was that market participants had speculated that the central bank's tone could be more optimistic this time round.

"The market had perhaps been taking a small bet that the Riksbank would deliver a more hawkish tone, saying that things had improved a bit quicker," he said.

The euro rose 0.4 percent against the Swedish currency to 10.3300 crowns, though it was off an earlier high around 10.3750.

Later in the session, U.S. jobless claims data at 1230 GMT and housing data at 1500 GMT will be in focus.

(Additional reporting by Naomi Tajitsu, editing by Nigel Stephenson)

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.