Euro finds footing on hawkish policy remarks, lower energy prices

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

euro was near a 15-year high on the yen and was firm against the dollar on Thursday, following hawkish remarks from European policymakers and the prospect of falling energy prices.

At $1.0703 the common currency withstood a rising greenback after the European Central Bank's chief economist said he had not seen enough progress in taming inflation.

Overnight, the euro touched its highest since 2008 at 161.73 yen, having broken out since the Bank of Japan left short-term rates on hold last week as investors see the pair as safer than navigating the risk of an intervention in dollar/yen.

The euro is also up 0.5% this week to 87.14 pence.

Ireland's central bank chief Gabriel Makhlouf said on Wednesday further interest rate hikes should not be excluded, something markets do not expect at all, while Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said the «late mile» to the inflation target may be the toughest.
«While the market has been focusing on the prospects of rate cuts from (G10 central banks) next year, many of the respective central bankers have been pushing back against this speculation,» said Rabobank senior strategist Jane Foley.

«As long as inflation remains above target, policy makers are likely to want to keep alive the risk of further tightening particularly since a significant drop in market rates could worsen inflationary risks.»

The unloved yen failed to get much of a boost from a fall in U.S.

Treasury yields, with the 10-year rate marking its lowest close since mid-September overnight, but the yen sliding back towards 151 per dollar.

It was last at 150.99 in Asia morning trade.

Elsewhere, falling oil prices were welcome relief in Europe, but weighed on commodity-linked currencies such as the Australian and New