Dollar falls

The dollar slid against most major currencies on Tuesday as comments by Citigroups chief executive that the bank was profitable in the first two months of 2009 boosted stocks and prompted investors to pare back safe-haven bids on the greenback. The improvement in risk appetite spurred a bounce in the euro, which rose to two-week highs versus the dollar.
But analysts cautioned the euros gains could be fleeting as the global macroeconomic environment and worries about banking systems worldwide remain supportive of the dollar as the worlds reserve currency. The yen rose and fell against the dollar over the session, with doubts about the Japanese currencys status as a safe haven keeping trading in tight ranges, traders said.
"Were seeing a general rebound in risk appetite given improving stock performance," said Omer Esiner, senior market analyst at Ruesch International in Washington. "The Citigroup memo assuaged fears about the health of the banking sector, undermining the dollars safe-haven appeal. But this could be all temporary and the market is just probably booking profits on the dollars recent gains," he added.
In late afternoon New York trading, the euro rose 0.4 percent to $1.2665, after hitting a roughly two-week high at $1.2821, according to Reuters data. The euro was also 0.7 percent firmer against sterling at 92.16 pence after earlier touching a five-and-a-half week high at 92.47 pence.
US stocks gained sharply after the comments by Citigroup Chief Executive Vikram Pandit fuelled optimism. Pandit, in an internal memo seen by Reuters, said the company was profitable in the first two months of the year and confident about its capital strength.
Some analysts, however, were skeptical the Citigroup-inspired rally in equities and currencies such as the euro would last. "The market is talking about the Citigroup news, but at the same time the US government is readying a fourth contingency plan for Citigroup," said Adam Fazio, senior currency strategist at CIBC World Markets in New York.
"The government wouldnt be putting a fourth plan in place if it didnt think there was some chance that it would be needed. ... So I think were going to get another round of bad news and I would be a buyer on dips here in the dollar."
The euro, meanwhile, gained despite remarks from European Central Bank Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who was quoted as saying the bank was prepared to cut interest rates to zero if deflation threatens and the economic situation worsens.
Lower rates typically make securities in that currency less attractive and reduce demand for the currency to buy them. The market showed little reaction to comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that sustainable economic recovery is out of reach until the US financial system is stabilised. But Bernankes comments reminded investors that a lot needs to be done by governments worldwide to emerge from the downturn.
The pound initially gained against the dollar in early trading, rising as high as $1.3905, but the rebound was always on shaky ground and sterling last traded down 0.2 percent at $1.3740, a six-week low. The currency shed 2 percent on Monday when Lloyds Banking Group intensified sector worries with its announcement the British government was taking a stake of up to 77 percent.
The dollar, meanwhile, reversed early gains against the yen and was last down 0.1 percent at 98.71 yen. The Japanese currency stayed weaker versus a broadly stronger euro at 124.99 yen. The yen has fallen in the past month as Japan grapples with diving exports and the worst recession of the post-war era. Its current account balance swung to the largest deficit on record in January, adding to selling pressure.