US dollar steadies but dogged by worries over deficits, inflation

[TOKYO] The US dollar inched higher versus a basket of major currencies on Tuesday, clinging above a three-year low set last week, but its outlook was clouded by concerns that the ballooning US fiscal deficit could disrupt the economy.

The US dollar's index versus six major peers stood at 89.347, about 1.2 per cent above Friday's three-year low of 88.251.

The US dollar has been weakening in recent months, with the positive impetus from rising US interest rates offset by a barrage of bearish factors.

Initially, the view that other central banks will catch up with the Federal Reserve in tightening policy this year was cited as a reason for the US dollar's underperformance.

Then came comments from US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, which stoked concerns the United States could pursue a weaker US dollar policy as its trade deficit rose to highest level in almost a decade.

Mounting worries about the US budget deficit, which is projected to balloon to more than US$1 trillion in 2019 amid a government spending splurge and large corporate tax cuts, have also undermined the greenback.

"The dollar has been falling continuously, but with changing themes. At the moment, a projected increase in US debt issuance, a reduction in Fed bond buying and bulging US fiscal deficit are the main focus," said Daisuke Uno, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Bank.

"That should mean US long-term yields will remain high while the dollar will stay cheap," he said.

Economists say US President Donald Trump's tax cuts and spending plans could backfire by overheating an already strong economy and causing an unwanted pick-up in inflation.

Against the yen, the US dollar edged up 0.2 per cent to 106.77 yen, having bounced back from a 15-month low of 105.545 set on Friday.

Stephen Innes, head of trading in Asia-Pacific for Oanda in Singapore, said there seemed to be some short-covering in the dollar in the wake of its recent fall.

"We've got a lot of Fed speakers...this week. I think that could be a reason why we're seeing some of the short dollar positions pared back," Mr Innes said.

He added, however, that the US dollar could come under pressure if this week's US government bond auctions were to show sluggish investor demand for US debt.

The euro eased 0.2 per cent to US$1.2387, backing down from Friday's three-year high of US$1.2556.

Euro zone finance ministers on Monday chose Spanish economy minister Luis de Guindos to succeed European Central Bank vice-president Vitor Constancio in May.

The move is likely to boost the chances of German Bundesbank governor Jens Weidmann becoming head of the ECB next year to succeed Mario Draghi in 2019, possibly giving the ECB's policy a more hawkish tilt.

Expectations that the ECB will roll back its stimulus have been the major driving force behind the euro's rally since last year.

Still, in the near term, investors may be cautious about buying the common currency given political uncertainty in the continent.

German Social Democrats (SPD) start voting in a postal ballot on Tuesday on whether the centre-left party should go ahead with the agreement its leaders clinched last week to renew their power-sharing alliance with the Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.

The results of the vote, which takes place as the SPD's support has fallen behind that of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), is due on March 4.

Italy will also hold a general election on March 4, which is expected to result in a hung parliament.

REUTERS