US dollar holds steady before Fed meeting

London

THE dollar drifted in narrow ranges on Tuesday after strong recent gains as the US Federal Reserve geared up for a two-day policy meeting at which it is widely expected to raise interest rates for the fifth time since late 2015.

The British pound and the Swedish krone led gainers as investors squared positions in thin trading before the Fed's decision.

Investors will be watching for the Fed's assessment of the health of the economy as that might change the market's views on the future path of borrowing costs. Bond markets anticipate two further rate hikes next year but Fed forecasters expect three.

"Although we do not expect (Fed chair) Janet Yellen to overly modify her choice of judicious language, (President (Donald Trump's) . . . tax cuts . . . could feasibly allow far greater conviction in the speed with which policy normalisation should proceed," said Neil Mellor, senior currency strategist at BNY Mellon.

The dollar index held steady at 93.80 after rising more than one per cent last week, its biggest weekly rise since the end of October. But it is still down more than 9 per cent so far this year.

A Reuters poll of currency strategists published last week suggested the dollar would remain on the back foot in the coming months and decline 2.5 per cent against the euro over the next year to US$1.22.

Sterling got only a temporary boost on Tuesday from data showing British inflation unexpectedly nearly hit a six-year high in November with markets focusing on Brexit negotiations.

The pound climbed to the day's high US$1.3380 after the data, up from US$1.3335 beforehand, before slipping back to US$1.33, up 0.2 per cent on the day.

"Liquidity appears solid and any sterling upside has limits given the uncertainty before the Brexit deal," said Neil Jones, Mizuho's head of currency sales for hedge funds in London.

The euro changed hands at US$1.175, having pulled back from Monday's intraday high of US$1.1811.

The New Zealand dollar set a two-week high as investors welcomed the appointment of national pension fund chief Adrian Orr, a former central bank official, to head the Reserve Bank from March.

Investors were relieved by the selection of an experienced official and expected he would not veer too far from the status quo as he carries out his dual mandate.

The kiwi, which climbed nearly 1.1 per cent on Monday following the announcement, extended its gains on Tuesday and rose to US$0.6953 at one point, its highest since Nov. 10. REUTERS