Dollar gains as central banks take central stage

By Karen Brettell NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar rose on Monday, a day before the Federal Reserve was due to begin a two-day policy meeting, while the euro was boosted by unexpectedly high inflation data before the European Central Bank meets on Thursday. The U.S. central bank is widely expected to hike…

Dollar cautiously firm ahead of busy central bank week

By Rae Wee SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The dollar firmed on Monday and distanced itself from an eight-month trough ahead of a slew of central bank meetings this week, including the Federal Reserve’s, with traders keenly focused on guidance for the path of interest rate rises. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback…

Dollar higher as strong U.S. data backs a hawkish Fed

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar edged higher against the euro on Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy maintained a strong pace of growth in the fourth quarter, backing the case for the U.S. Federal Reserve to maintain its hawkish stance for longer. Gross domestic product increased at…

Dollar near eight-month low ahead of central bank meetings

By Rae Wee SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The dollar lolled near an eight-month low against its peers on Thursday, as a gloomy U.S. corporate earnings season stoked recession fears and as traders stayed on guard ahead of a slew of central bank meetings next week. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against…

Dollar slips as upbeat euro zone business activity data lifts euro

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) -The dollar edged lower against the euro on Tuesday after data showed euro zone business activity made a surprise return to modest growth in January, while U.S. business activity shrank for a seventh straight month. While U.S. business activity shrank in January, the downturn moderated across…

Dollar edges lower vs euro on ECB rate hike bets

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and Samuel Indyk NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar slipped against the euro on Monday, at one point hitting a fresh 9-month low, as the common currency found support from European Central Bank officials’ comments signalling additional jumbo interest rate rises in Europe. The euro reached as high as…

Gold prices cool after strong rally, head for fifth week of gains

By Ambar Warrick Investing.com– Gold prices hovered at a nine-month high on Friday after a sharp rally in the prior session, and were headed for a fifth consecutive week of gains amid resurgent safe haven demand and growing uncertainty over the path of U.S. monetary policy. Prices of the yellow metal surged nearly…

U.S. dollar advances vs major currencies as risk appetite fades

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar rose against major currencies on Wednesday in choppy trading, gaining safe-haven bids as risk appetite worsened with stocks on the defensive amid hawkish comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials that suggested more interest rate increases are likely to tame inflation. Analysts, however, remained convinced…

U.S. dollar falters vs major currencies as sterling gains; yen in spotlight

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar fell against most major currencies on Tuesday in choppy trading, weighed down by expectations of a possible policy shift at the Bank of Japan (BOJ) that could end its so-called “yield curve control” and be a precursor to adopting a tighter monetary stance. The…

Yen perched near 7-month high as BOJ looms

By Tom Westbrook SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The dollar drifted off multi-month lows on Tuesday, while the yen was perched near seven-month highs as investors held their breath for a potential policy shift at the Bank of Japan. The euro reached a nine-month high on Monday at $1.0874, but was last loitering around $1.0830.…