NEW YORK: The US dollar strengthened against major currencies on Tuesday following better-than-expected retail sales data that showed underlying economic momentum and as markets braced for interest rate moves from the Federal Reserve and other central banks.
Commerce Department data on Tuesday showed that US retail sales surpassed expectations by jumping 0.7% in November, backed by an uptick in motor vehicle and online purchases.
Markets are still anticipating that the Fed will deliver a 25-basis-point interest rate cut at the end of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, with futures implying a nearly 97% chance of a cut, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.
Against the Swiss franc, the dollar was flat at 0.894 in choppy trading, after hovering near its highest level since July. The euro, which is heading for a drop of nearly 5% against the dollar this year, was down 0.16% at $1.04950.
The US dollar index - which tracks the currency against six others - was rose 0.1% to 106.91, after trading as high as 107.08 on the session.
“The market is trying to debate whether it’s time to fade the dollar, which has had an incredible run this year,” said Marvin Loh, senior global market strategist at State Street in Boston.
“But it seems hard to really push back against US exceptionalism and a stronger dollar going into the new administration, whether we’re talking about a Fed that will probably not seem as dovish as did in September or the challenges that keep popping up in the emerging and developed markets that makes the dollar a safe haven.”
The pound sterling rose against the dollar after data showed British wage growth picked up more strongly than expected in the three months to October. The Bank of England will announce its rate decision on Thursday. The sterling strengthened 0.18% to $1.2704.
The yen strengthened against the dollar, as markets have scaled back the chances of a rate hike by the Bank of Japan this week in favor of a move in January. It rose 0.46% against the greenback to 153.45 per dollar.
The dollar weakened 0.02% to 7.290 versus the offshore Chinese yuan, as dour expectations for Chinese economic growth pinned 10-year bond yields near record lows.
The Australian dollar weakened 0.46% versus the greenback to $0.6341, while the Swedish crown weakened 0.44% versus the dollar to 10.939. The Norwegian Krone was also down 0.57% to 11.2022 against the greenback.
Sweden’s Riksbank is expected to cut rates by as much as half a point this week, while Norges Bank will likely leave rates unchanged.
Bitcoin rose as high as $108, 379.28, trading near the $110,000 mark, before paring gains and was up 0.72% to $106,846.00.
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