Dollar rises after Fed’s upbeat economic outlook

By Eimi Yamamitsu

TOKYO (Reuters) – The dollar edged up against major currencies on Thursday following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s upbeat assessment of the economic recovery and as its increased tolerance for higher inflation push bond yields higher.

At its policy meeting, the Fed pledged to keep rates near zero until the labour market reaches “maximum employment” and inflation is on track to “moderately exceed” the 2% inflation target.

The Fed also expects economic growth to improve from the coronavirus-induced drop they projected in June.

The dollar index rose 0.2% against six major currencies to trade at 93.389 , while changing hands at 1.1777 against the euro .

The greenback initially fell after the Fed’s announcement, and weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data, but swung into postive territory after Chair Jerome Powell’s comment on economic outlook.

“The dollar shifted a little, but the market overall did not show a huge reaction,” said Shinichiro Kadota, senior strategist at Baraclays.

“Besides the presidential election, I think the focus will be on the U.S. fiscal support, which (Fed Chair Jerome) Powell also said is essential. The Congress is still struggling with stimulus talks, and markets are eyeing if that would be resolved.”

The safe-haven Japanese yen changed hands at 105.035 against the greenback, a fraction below a 2 1/2-month high of 104.81 marked overnight.

The Bank of Japan is due to conclude its first meeting after Yoshihide Suga, a long-time aide of Shinzo Abe who pledged to continue “Abenomics” to recover employment, was officially elected as Japan’s new prime minister on Wednesday.

Market participants will focus on BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s remarks about how the central bank would coordinate monetary policy with the new Suga administration.

Elsewhere, the Chinese yuan in offshore trade was near the 16-month high of 6.7652 per dollar it hit after strong retail sales and industrial output data on Tuesday.

The focus for sterling is now on Brexit tensions, following the British government’s deal on Wednesday to avert a rebellion in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own party, giving parliament a say over the use of post-Brexit powers.

The pound was last at $1.2933 , having dropped more than 3.5% against the greenback and the euro last week.

Against the euro, it changed hands at 0.91025 pence per euro, near a 5-1/2 month low it hit earlier this week .

The Bank of England is likely to signal that it is getting ready to pump more stimulus into Britain’s coronavirus-hit economy at its policy decision due later in the day.

The kiwi traded 0.3% below at $0.6714, after data showed New Zealand fell into its deepest slump on record as the coronavirus outbreak paralysed business activity.

The Australian dollar traded at $0.7304 after the country’s jobs data showed employment rose in August.

(Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu; Editing by Sam Holmes)