Dollar teeters, gold takes a breather as markets await Fed
By Administrator_India
The U.S. dollar hovered just above a two-year low on Wednesday, while stocks struggled, as growing worries about the U.S. economy had investors cautious and looking to Congress and the Federal Reserve for a boost.
The Fed is expected to strike a dovish stance at its policy review later in the day and perhaps open the door to a higher tolerance for inflation – something dollar bears think could squash real yields and sink the currency even further.
A $1 trillion U.S. fiscal rescue package is also at an impasse as a Friday deadline to extend unemployment benefits looms.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.1% as gains in China offset small losses elsewhere. Japan’s Nikkei was down 0.8% on a rising yen and weak start to corporate earnings season.
Against a basket of currencies the dollar wallowed just 0.3% above a two-year low hit a day ago. It has lost 3.7% in July so far and is headed for its worst month in nine years.
Gold steadied around $1,960 an ounce, pulling back from a $1,980 high on Tuesday but still having gained nearly $150 in eight sessions. S&P 500 futures were flat.
The Fed’s forward guidance probably determines the next move and the extension of several emergency lending facilities on Tuesday fuelled anticipation of a particularly dovish tone.
The Fed publishes its interest rate decision, which is not expected to change, at 1800 GMT and Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference half an hour later.
Besides the Fed, the other focus is on political wrangling over the next U.S. fiscal package, which weighed on Wall Street overnight where the S&P 500 fell 0.6%.
Republicans’ $1 trillion proposal includes cutting a weekly $600 unemployment benefit, which expires on Friday, to $200 just as cracks emerge in the economic rebound.
The Democrats are pressing for a larger spending commitment, while President Donald Trump also said he didn’t like elements of the Republican plan, adding to the sense of confusion.
The euro was steady at $1.1723 while the yen was testing a new four-month top at 105.09 per dollar.
Copper prices climbed back towards a two-year high hit two weeks ago, on hopes that global stimulus would help industrial demand.
Oil prices steadied after a surprise drop in U.S. inventories pointed to energy demand, even as virus infections surge.
Brent crude futures were last up 0.2% at $43.29 per barrel and U.S. crude was flat at $41.03 a barrel.
