Dollar edges lower ahead of key U.S. CPI release; U.K. GDP rose in August
Investing.com — The U.S. dollar slipped lower in early European trade Thursday, hovering near a two-week low ahead of the release of key U.S. inflation data.
At 03:15 ET (07:15 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded 0.2% lower at 105.377, just above the day’s low, the weakest level in two weeks.
The minutes from the Fed’s last meeting, released on Wednesday, indicated that most of the central bank’s policymakers agreed that one more rate hike would be «appropriate» as inflation continues to trend well above target.
That said, the minutes also pointed to uncertainties around the economy as supporting «the case for proceeding carefully in determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate.»
The weeks following the September meeting have seen a sharp rise in Treasury yields, and this has been cited by a number of Fed officials as a factor that may allow them to end the rate hike cycle, to the detriment of the U.S. currency.
“U.S. yields continued to correct lower on expectations the Fed will let markets do the tightening and refrain from hiking again,” said analysts at ING, in a note. “We suspect, however, that further bond rallies might put a hike back on the table, and limit USD losses.”
Losses have been limited Thursday after September’s U.S. producer inflation figures came in much stronger than expected, creating a degree of tension ahead of the consumer price reading later in the session.
Analysts expect the headline number to rise 3.6% from last year and 0.3% for the month, while core CPI, which excludes food and fuel prices, is expected to rise 4.1% from last year and 0.3% from August.
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