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

FOREX-Dollar slides as JPMorgan adds to recovery optimism

Published 10/14/2009, 08:08 AM
Updated 10/14/2009, 08:12 AM
GC
-

* Dollar hits 14-mth lows vs euro, Aussie, CAD, FX basket

* JPMorgan earnings, global recovery optimism dent dollar

* Euro boosted after euro zone industry output data (Adds comment, quote; changes byline)

By Jessica Mortimer

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The dollar slid to a 14-month low against a basket of currencies and the euro on Wednesday, dented as solid JPMorgan Chase results, rising equities and commodities stoked optimism about an improving global economy.

JPMorgan Chase & Co reported a sharp rise in third-quarter results as underwriting revenue at its investment bank offset deeper losses on credit cards and other consumer loans. [ID:nLE225971]

The buoyant results followed forecast-beating earnings from Intel Corp late on Tuesday and upbeat Chinese trade data on Wednesday, all of which helped brighten the economic outlook and encouraged investors to move into perceived riskier and higher-yielding currencies.

The U.S. dollar meanwhile remained under broad selling pressure on the view that U.S. interest rates will stay at very low levels for some time.

"Anything that points to a global recovery is hurting the dollar at the moment," said James Hughes, market analyst at CMC Markets.

"The JP Morgan results were pretty good and that has helped drag it lower still," he added.

The better-than-forecast results from JP Morgan and Intel Corp helped push the MSCI all-country world index <.MIWD00000PUS> to a one-year high.

For a graphic on the correlation between euro/dollar and world stocks, click on http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/109/GLB_MKTH1009.gif

By 1150 GMT, the euro had hit $1.4921 according to trading platform EBS, its highest since August 2008.

Many in the market see the euro climbing higher and some analysts see a break above $1.50 in coming weeks.

The dollar index <.DXY>, which tracks the dollar's value against a basket of currencies, slid to 75.436, a trough last seen in August 2008. The Swiss franc rose to around 1.0167 francs versus the dollar, its highest since July 2008.

The Australian and Canadian dollars also hit their strongest since August 2008, while the Norwegian crown rose to its firmest since September 2008 as U.S. crude oil prices jumped to a 2009 high and gold to a record high. [O/R] [GOL/]

NEGATIVE DOLLAR SENTIMENT

Analysts said negative dollar sentiment was the day's main driver, adding that data showing a 0.9 percent month-on-month rise in euro zone output offset a poll showing a fall in German sentiment on Tuesday.

"Today's data eased some concerns about the euro zone economy after yesterday's weak ZEW survey," said Jeremy Stretch, strategist at Rabobank in London, adding that this had helped to prod the euro higher.

Also pressuring the dollar were comments from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn, who on Tuesday said the economy would not snap back quickly from its deep recession, bolstering the view for low U.S. rates. [ID:nN13198041]

Next up, U.S. retail sales for September will be released at 1230 GMT. Expectations are for a 2.1 percent fall from August, when sales rose 2.7 percent.

Analysts said higher share prices would continue to pummel the dollar on the view that an improving economy would decrease demand for safe-haven dollars.

"We have seen the correlation between the equity market and euro/dollar has declined slightly in the past month, but it is still high by historical standards," said Kasper Kirkegaard, currency strategist at Danske Markets in Copenhagen.

Elsewhere, the yen pared some of its earlier gains after earlier drawing support from a senior Japanese official who signalled yen-weakening intervention was undesirable. [ID:nT362093]

The dollar was down 0.1 percent at 89.62 yen .

(Reporting by Jessica Mortimer, 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.