Dollar Steady After Sinking on U.S. Rate Outlook: Markets Wrap
(Bloomberg) —
The dollar held onto losses after tumbling as the latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes highlighted a dovish tilt that showed divisions over the future path for U.S. monetary policy. The yen rose to a two-month high and Asian stocks clung to record levels.
Stocks were steady in Hong Kong and Australia, with subdued trading in the U.S. carrying over into Asia. The MSCI Asia Pacific Ex Japan Index inched higher. The Bloomberg dollar spot index fell to the lowest level since October and Treasuries added to gains, pushing the 10-year yield to 2.32 percent on Wednesday. Volumes were low in U.S. equity trading ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, with the S&P 500 Index closing down a tad below the 2,600 level that it breached for the first time Tuesday. Japan markets are also closed Thursday for a holiday. Gold and oil were steady after rallies.
Fed meeting minutes showed several policy makers were concerned about soft inflation, though many still saw a “near term” rate hike as warranted. Equities remain on track to close out the year near all-time highs with investors in the stock market optimistic about global growth and company earnings.
In Asian economic news, Singapore raised its growth forecast for this year, underscoring strength across Southeast Asian economies, with third-quarter data from the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand exceeding forecasts.
The yen nudged higher after rising to a nine-week high against the dollar. The euro gained as efforts continued to end Germany’s political impasse. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party is betting on a revived alliance with the Social Democrats to dodge the risk of new elections after coalition talks with two other parties broke down, according to people familiar with discussions in Berlin.
Here are some key events scheduled for the remainder of this week:
Minutes from the European Central Bank’s October meeting due on Thursday could show dissent in the discussion about tapering. New Zealand October trade and South Korea November consumer confidence are due Friday.These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index fell less than 0.1 percent and South Korea’s Kospi index fluctuated. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was flat and the Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.4 percent. Contracts on the S&P 500 Index were flat as of 10:43 a.m. in Tokyo. The underlying gauge fell 0.1 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Ex Japan Index rose less than 0.1 percent.
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was steady after its biggest drop since March. The yen climbed less than 0.1 percent to 111.17 per dollar. The euro was steady at $1.1816. The Aussie dollar was trading at 76.11 U.S. cents. The pound was at $1.3320, near its strongest in almost eight weeks.
Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell four basis points to 2.32 percent. Australia’s 10-year yield was steady at 2.51 percent.
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.1 percent to $57.94 a barrel, trading near its highest since mid-2015, as U.S. crude stockpiles declined. Gold was little changed at $1,290.84 an ounce.
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