Dollar back near two-year high; Aussie hits decade low

• U.S. dollar rose on Wednesday after disappointing manufacturing data knocked it off two-year highs, while the euro clung to levels above $1.09.
• The dollar index, which measures the it against a basket of other currencies.
• The euro fell 0.2pc to $1.0915 but was above Tuesday's two-year low of $1.0879.

LONDON: The U.S. dollar rose on Wednesday after disappointing manufacturing data knocked it off two-year highs, while the euro clung to levels above $1.09.

U.S. manufacturing contracted at the fastest pace in more than a decade in September, making the United States the latest country to suffer a manufacturing downturn amid a trade war between Washington and Beijing.

Many analysts, however, say the dollar's higher yield and the relative strength of the U.S. economy should make its setback temporary.

Non-farm payrolls data due on Friday should give more insight into the health of the U.S. economy.

The dollar index, which measures the it against a basket of other currencies, climbed 0.2pc to 99.353 after reaching 99.667 on Tuesday, a 29-month peak, before the manufacturing data was released.

The euro fell 0.2pc to $1.0915 but was above Tuesday's two-year low of $1.0879.

"Yes, U.S. manufacturing is disappointing, but it's no more disappointing than the euro zone PMIs (Purchasing Managers' Index surveys) we saw," said Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.

Hewson said weakness in U.S. manufacturing would have to spill over into services before it had much impact on monetary policy and the outlook for the dollar.

Even with more rate cuts, the dollar is still the highest-yielding currency among developed markets. The U.S. economy has also held up well, so far.

"We'll need to wait for tomorrow's non-manufacturing index for a broader view of how fast the economy overall is losing momentum, and we'll have to go on waiting if we want cast-iron evidence that recession, like winter, is coming," said Societe Generale's strategist Kit Juckes.

AUSSIE SLIDE

The Australian dollar fell 0.3pc to $0.667, its weakest since early 2009, as investors dumped currencies linked to the outlook of the global economy.

The Aussie had reached a decade low on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut rates to a record low.

The Japanese yen strengthened 0.1pc to 107.64, reflecting investor demand for safer assets after the U.S. data heightened concerns about the health of the global economy.

The Swiss franc fell after Swiss National Bank governing board member Andrea Maechler said expansive monetary policy was critical to help counter global uncertainty.

The franc dropped 0.6pc against the euro to 1.0915 francs and was last down 0.7pc against the dollar  at 1 franc.

The pound sank 0.5pc to $1.2247 amid doubt over whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson's final Brexit offer to the European Union would be well-received by Brussels.