US dollar dips as investors analyse Fed rate hike hints

THE US dollar edged lower on Wednesday (Aug 3) but held on to most of the previous day's gains, after leaping on Federal Reserve officials' hints at aggressive rate hikes and drawing support amid a US-China flare-up over Taiwan.

The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against 6 major peers, has softened from a 2-decade high in mid-July as investors reined in expectations of Fed rate hikes.

But a trio of Fed officials signalled on Tuesday the central bank remains "completely united" on increasing rates to a level that will put a dent in the highest US inflation since the 1980s, lifting the US dollar index 0.8 per cent that day.

The index pulled back slightly on Wednesday, down a quarter of a per cent at 106.170.

Frictions after the highest-level US visit to Taiwan in 25 years are likely to help support the safe-haven US dollar for now, currency analysts said.

China condemned House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit and began 6 days of military drills surrounding Taiwan, as Pelosi hailed the self-ruled island as "one of the freest societies in the world".

Barring a further escalation, US rate hike bets are likely to remain the key driver of US dollar moves, analysts said.

"It was clear that Fed officials had thought market participants had gone too far in paring back rate hike expectations," currency analysts at MUFG said in a note. "The hawkish Fed comments had an immediate impact."

US monthly jobs data due on Friday will help set the tone for the greenback, analysts said.

The Japanese yen - which had lost more than 1 per cent versus the US dollar on Tuesday - edged 0.1 per cent lower on the day at 133.355 yen per US dollar.

The euro gained 0.2 per cent to US$1.01855, despite separate data showing monthly drops in both business activity and retail sales in the eurozone.

Sterling also gained ground on the US dollar, up 0.2 per cent at US$1.21770, ahead of a Bank of England policy meeting on Thursday at which it is expected to raise rates for the sixth straight time. REUTERS