US dollar stays weak, but long-term outlook still upbeat

[NEW YORK] The US dollar fell to a five-week low on Friday, remaining under pressure for a third straight session after the Federal Reserve quashed hopes for a further currency bull run by keeping a gradual rate-hiking pace.

"At the moment, the dollar remains in correction mode, which we had fully expected," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst, Forex.com in London.

"But we remain fundamentally bullish on the greenback because the Fed remains the only major central bank which is actively tightening its policy." James Chen, head of research at Forex.com in Bedminster, New Jersey, also pointed out that the pace of Fed rate hikes and policy outlooks can change extremely quickly.

He noted that only a few weeks before Wednesday's Fed announcement, expectations for a March hike were exceptionally low. But Fed officials made a concerted effort to warn the markets of the high likelihood of a Fed rate hike and expectations then soared to a near-certainty, Mr Chen said.

"This same rapid change in expectations could very likely occur again at any time, assuming the Trump administration's fiscal plans begin to take root." With the Fed policy meeting out of the way, investors focused on Friday's G20 financial leaders meeting in Baden Baden. It will be one of the most closely-watched G20 meetings for the currency market.

Any hints of a broader push by Washington against an appreciating US dollar are likely to weaken the currency.

The surge in the US dollar in the weeks after the US election last November was largely due to expectations of increased spending. But a higher US budget deficit is likely to dampen that view.

Jane Foley, senior FX strategist at Rabobank in London, said she sees the risk that any additional spending may not happen until the end of the year, or potentially 2018.

"That disappointment over the reflationary outlook could weigh on the dollar in the coming months," she added.

In late trading, the US dollar index slipped 0.1 per cent to 100.30, after earlier falling to a five-week low. The index was down almost one per cent overall for the week and 1.2 per cent since the Fed raised rates on Wednesday.

Against the yen, the US dollar fell to a two-week low and last traded down 0.6 per cent at 112.68 yen.

The euro, meanwhile, fell against the US dollar after a poll showed far-right anti-EU leader Marine Le Pen extending her lead over centrist Emmanuel Macron in the first round of France's presidential elections. The euro was last down 0.2 per cent at US$1.0740.

REUTERS