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

FOREX-Dollar hits 1-year low vs euro before Fed, G20

Published 09/22/2009, 07:47 AM
Updated 09/22/2009, 07:48 AM

* Dollar sags ahead of Fed policy announcement, G20 meet

* Euro hits 1-year high at $1.4822

* Market sentiment firmly to sell dollars on any rally

(Updates prices, adds quotes and comment)

By Naomi Tajitsu

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The euro hit a one-year high against a sliding dollar on Tuesday as dealers resumed selling the U.S. currency following its rise the previous day, while markets awaited a Federal Reserve policy decision and Group of 20 summit later in the week.

Negative dollar sentiment resumed, helping to push the euro as high as $1.4822 on trading platform EBS as traders cleared option barriers around the key $1.48 region, while Asian central banks were also seen selling the dollar against the euro.

"In a market where there's a dearth of events and data ahead of the Fed in particular, and with stock futures maintaining gains, it's a case of perpetuating dollar selling," said Jeremy Stretch, strategist at Rabobank in London.

Analysts expect the Fed to signal its ultra-loose monetary policy will remain in place well into next year when it announces its policy statement on Wednesday.

The dollar has taken a beating across the board this month, stung by concerns that its status as the world's reserve currency may weaken in the future, and while increasing market risk demand has tarnished its safe-haven appeal.

In addition, G20 leaders are expected to discuss the need to rebalance the global economy, and the prospect that this would inevitably require a weak dollar also dragged the currency down.

A document obtained by Reuters showed how Washington would urge G20 leaders this week to launch a new push this year to get debtor nations like the United States to save more and exporters like China, Germany and Japan to spend more.

Some in the market said the prospect of such a rebalancing resonated all the more on Tuesday, the 24th anniversary of the Plaza Accord, which resulted in a massive dollar devaluation.

At 1136 GMT the euro was up 0.8 percent on the day at $1.4790, inching down from the day's high. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was down 0.9 percent at 76.12, approaching the one-year low of 76.01 struck on Sept 17.

European shares rose more than 1 percent on the day, while U.S. stock futures were up 0.7 percent, suggesting investor demand for riskier assets.

The dollar fell 0.7 percent against the yen to 91.40 yen on Tuesday and was down 0.9 percent against the Swiss franc at a 14-month low of 1.0217 francs.

DOLLAR IN FOCUS AT G20?

In addition to the Fed, the Norwegian central bank will announce its policy decisions on Wednesday, while the Bank of England publishes the minutes of its last policy meeting.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Axel Weber on Tuesday said recent moves in currency markets were "not out of line" given the euro zone's economic performance relative to other areas.

Some said this suggested the ECB was comfortable with the euro where it is and a green light to push it even higher.

Still, others pointed to the risk that dollar bearishness engulfs the market, and the selling turns into a rout.

"These ideas that the U.S. and Europe can come up with a deal to resolve imbalances is a pipe dream and unworkable," said Maurice Pomery, managing director at Strategic Alpha in London, adding that protectionism from emerging nations in the form of currency intervention was more likely.

"A discussion at the G20 on currencies, and especially the dollar, is not only appropriate but essential, as this move could accelerate swiftly," he said.

The New Zealand dollar surged more than 2 percent to a 13-month high against the dollar of $0.7230 rallying after dairy exporter Fonterra raised its estimated payout to farmer shareholders, pointing to stronger global demand and a recovery in dairy prices.. (Additional reporting by Jamie McGeever, editing by Ron Askew)

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.