Free Trial

USD Index Clears March Highs Post-Fed Minutes

FOREX
  • Fed minutes late yesterday showed that the Fed is on course to begin winding down its USD120 billion QE program before the year is out despite some officials' concerns the labor market recovery has lagged.
  • "Most participants noted that, provided that the economy were to evolve broadly as they anticipated, they judged that it could be appropriate to start reducing the pace of asset purchases this year because they saw the Committee's "substantial further progress" criterion as satisfied with respect to the price-stability goal and as close to being satisfied with respect to the maximum-employment goal," was the key phrase.
  • USD slipped in the immediate response to the release, but had quickly made up for lost ground, with USD Indes now touching new multi-month highs to trade through late March's 93.437. This opens gains toward 94.302 last seen in November.
  • AUD, NZD are extending recent weakness with both currencies hitting new 2021 lows overnight. Soft commodities and equities across Asia are largely responsible, with HK stocks down 1.8% just ahead of the close.
  • US weekly jobless claims crosses later today, but the Norges Bank decision (exp. Unchanged) is also due.

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.