The dollar and euro climbed against the yen on Monday, as gains in oil prices and US stocks along with better-than-expected sentiment in Europe rekindled hopes of a global economic recovery. That encouraged investors to sell the yen, viewed as a safe haven along with the dollar, and wade into other higher-yielding assets.
Comments from China, the single biggest holder of US Treasury securities, ruling out sudden changes in its foreign exchange reserve policy bolstered the dollar against the yen earlier in the day. But currency traders switched their focus to the surge in crude oil prices and rising equities in the afternoon. "Commodities are really the big story of the day. We've had the Nigerian oilfield attack, which has seen oil spike and that has really driven up the stock market," said Dan Cook, market analyst at IG Markets in Chicago.
"With stocks up, investors are selling the dollar against the euro especially. The yen is also down sharply with equities trading higher," he said. Oil prices rose over 3 percent on Monday, lifted by word of fresh rebel attacks on oil installations in key African producer, Nigeria, as well as gains in equity markets.
Nigeria's main militant group said its fighters had attacked an oil facility belonging to Royal Dutch Shell in the Niger Delta on Monday, days after President Umaru Yar'Adua proposed an amnesty. In late afternoon trading, the euro rose 0.2 percent against the dollar to $1.4078.
The European currency also gained support earlier after data showed euro zone economic sentiment improved more than expected in June. A survey by the European Commission showed economic sentiment in 16 countries using the euro rose to 73.3 points in June from 70.2 points in May. The dollar was up 0.8 percent against the yen at 96.02. The euro also gained against the yen, rising 0.9 percent to 135.16.
The New Zealand dollar rose 0.7 percent against the greenback to US $0.6502, while the Australian dollar was up slightly at US $0.8081. The earlier China news also was a positive factor for the dollar as Chinese officials said at a meeting of central bankers in Basel at the weekend that the policy governing its currency reserves was stable and consistent with no "sudden changes."
The dollar had come under pressure recently as debate intensified about the use of an alternative global currency to the greenback. The market will particularly pay close attention to US jobs data for any sign of improvement in the economy's health. The report is due on Thursday, with US financial markets closed on Friday for the Independence Day holiday. A Reuters poll showed economists expect job losses of 363,000 in June.