Dollar gains but still set for weekly drop as central banks turn hawkish
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NEW YORK/LONDON, March 20 : The dollar gained on Friday but was still headed for a weekly fall against major currencies as investors pared back bets on interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve given the likelihood of higher inflation from rising energy prices.
Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, investors had priced in two Fed cuts this year. But they now largely believe one Fed rate cut is a distant prospect, and other major central banks are turning even more hawkish.
The euro, yen, sterling and Swiss franc headed for weekly gains against the dollar as policymakers laid the groundwork for higher interest rates in response to the war in the Middle East, which has choked oil and gas supplies.
The euro was down 0.39 per cent to $1.15350 but on track to add 1.1 per cent this week.
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The yen was down 0.85 per cent against the greenback to 159.07 per dollar. It is set to gain 0.43 per cent this week.
Sterling weakened 0.78 per cent to $1.3325 but was set to gain nearly 0.8 per cent against the dollar for the week.
"The overall picture is still that central banks sound more confident (about the impact of inflation) than people thought, especially the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan as well," said Juan Perez, director of trading at Monex USA in Washington.
"This followed a message from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday that is tied to the idea that everyone has been thinking that there's going to be one or two cuts for 2026 and they have no interest in cutting rates."
Benchmark Brent crude futures are up about 50 per cent since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, which has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted Middle East energy exports.
The dollar index was up about 0.4 per cent at 99.63 but on track for a 0.86 per cent weekly decline, its largest since late January. Still, many analysts think a prolonged fall is unlikely.
CENTRAL BANK DECISIONS
The European Central Bank kept rates on hold on Thursday, but warned of inflation driven by energy prices.
The Bank of England also kept rates on hold, but set off one of the sharpest routs yet in short-dated gilts by saying it was ready to act.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bank of Japan left the door open to a hike as soon as April, wrong-footing investors who had bet on a further slide in the yen and helping to lift the currency.
The Australian dollar weakened 0.69 per cent versus the greenback to $0.7037 for a weekly gain of 0.93 per cent, after the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked interest rates for the second time in as many months and investors expected more to come.
The Fed left rates on hold as expected earlier this week, but Chair Jerome Powell said it was too soon to know the scope and duration of the economic impact from the war.
The Swiss franc was down 0.14 per cent to 0.789 against the dollar but headed for a weekly gain of 0.29 per cent.
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