The dollar slipped in Asia on Tuesday as US Treasury yields fell to three-month lows, a sign some investors were wagering the Federal Reserve would slow the pace of its rate hikes. The weakness in the dollar comes against the backdrop of a temporary truce in the US-China trade conflict, which has bolstered investor confidence in riskier currencies versus the safe-haven greenback.
The US 10-year Treasury yield fell to 2.94 percent on Tuesday, its lowest level since mid September. The difference in yield between the US 2-year and 10-year tightened to its smallest since July 2007. The two-10-year yield curve is a key focus for investors as an inversion is seen as predictor of a US recession. A yield curve is said to be inverted when yields on longer-dated maturity bonds are lower than shorter-dated maturity bonds.
The yield curve has flattened as continuing interest rate hikes send short-dated yields higher, while longer-dated Treasuries are supported by tepid inflation and slowing global growth. "Falling US yields are a negative for the dollar, especially versus the major currencies," said Rodrigo Catril, senior currency strategist at NAB.
Catril added that US Treasury yields are near crucial technical support levels, a break of which could add further pressure on US yields and the dollar. The dollar index, a gauge of its value versus six major peers, was off 0.23 percent at 96.8. The dollar had been supported for most of 2018 by a robust US economy and a relatively hawkish Fed, which is widely expected to raise its policy interest rate later this month.
Markets have priced in an 87 percent probability of a rate hike at the Fed's Dec. 18-19 meeting. The dollar came under pressure last week when the market took comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell as signalling a slower pace of rate hikes. A more dovish tone from the Fed last week has led markets to question how many times the central bank will hike rates in 2019.
"Given data remains strong, we think the Fed will hike twice in 2019 and that's more than what the market is pricing in right now...we remain moderately bullish on the dollar," said Nick Twidale, chief operating officer at Rakuten Securities. Currencies such as the Chinese yuan, which were battered in the US-China trade war, are expected to trade stronger versus the greenback in the coming weeks as investor sentiment improves.
The dollar fell 0.5 percent against the offshore yuan to 6.8375. On Monday, it lost 1.07 percent, its steepest percentage fall since Aug. 25. "For now, it seems China has got the best out of G20 and we expect the yuan to remain supported," added Twidale. However, he warned that markets need to see a further easing in trade tensions for the risk-on rally to continue.
The Australian dollar gained 0.3 percent in Asian trade at $0.7376. The Reserve Bank of Australia kept its policy cash rate unchanged on Tuesday in a widely expected move. The yen traded at 113.13 to the dollar, with the greenback losing 0.4 percent versus the Japanese currency.
Elsewhere, sterling was gained 0.2 percent to trade at $1.2744 due to broad dollar weakness. On Monday, the pound fell below $1.27 for the first time since Oct. 31. Sterling has posted losses for three consecutive weeks as traders bet that British Prime Minister Theresa May will not be able to pass her Brexit deal through parliament on Dec. 11.
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