US dollar falls as traders await possible move on Fed bond purchases

[NEW YORK] The US dollar weakened against a basket of currencies on Tuesday in advance of a Federal Reserve meeting where policymakers are expected to decide on shrinking the central bank's US$4.2 trillion in bond holdings.

The Fed's possible move to roll back stimulus further has not stemmed the greenback's weakness this year as other major central banks are considering steps either to slow their own bond purchases or raise interest rates.

Analysts widely anticipate Fed policymakers to announce a lowering of monthly bond purchases, starting in October, when their two-day meeting ends on Wednesday. They expect Fed officials would leave the door open for a rate increase at their Dec 12-13 meeting.

"It's just a restless market before the Fed," said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington.

An index that tracks the US dollar against six currencies was down 0.3 per cent at 91.780, not far from the more than 2-1/2 year low of 91.011 set on Sept 8.

"The biggest risk for the dollar is... if they cast doubt on a December rate hike," Mr Manimbo said.

The futures market implied traders saw a 58 per cent chance of a rate increase at year-end, CME Group's FedWatch showed.

The US dollar had weakened against the yen ahead of US President Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations General Assembly, which some traders feared would heighten tensions between Washington and North Korea over the latter's growing nuclear weapons programme.

While Mr Trump harshly criticised the North Korean regime, it was not enough to spook most investors.

The greenback drifted 0.1 per cent lower at 111.47 yen, below its eight-week peak of 111.87 set earlier on Tuesday.

In emerging markets, the Mexican peso fell 0.3 per cent to 17.8125 peso per US dollar following reports of extensive damage to buildings in Mexico City in the aftermath of the second major earthquake that rocked that country in less than two weeks.

Meanwhile, traders have been speculating whether the European Central Bank is moving closer to wind down its 2.3 trillion euro (S$3.7 trillion) asset purchase program.

ECB policymakers disagree on whether to determine a fixed date to end the program when they meet in October, as the euro has jumped, Reuters reported.

The single currency fell briefly on the report.

Earlier on Tuesday, the yen hit a 21-month trough versus the euro at 134.15 yen, while the Swiss franc hit 1.1563 francs, its lowest against it since January 2015.

The common currency reached a one-week high versus the greenback at US$1.2005.

REUTERS