Dollar steadies ahead of inflation data, yuan hits new 3-year high

[May 27, 2021]  By Tommy Wilkes

LONDON (Reuters) -The dollar struggled to hold on to its gains on Thursday as more investors weighed up whether the Federal Reserve is edging closer to talking about tapering its asset purchases, and as traders wait for closely watched U.S. inflation data.

Four thousand U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker counting currency at a bank in Westminster, Colorado November 3, 2009. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

China's yuan scaled a new three-year high as investors become more confident that the Chinese central bank is comfortable with a stronger currency amid the country's economic recovery.

It was the only significant move in another quiet day for FX markets, with most currencies pinned in recent ranges as traders wait for any cues on the direction of U.S. monetary policy.

The euro traded at $1.2203, up 0.1% on the day, and the yen near a one-week low at 109.17 per dollar. Sterling dipped to a week-low of $1.4092 before recovering slightly.

Fed officials have this week downplayed immediate concerns about inflation prompting a knee-jerk policy response. But they - and notably influential vice chair Richard Clarida - have made a subtle shift in tone by acknowledging that the time to talk about policy changes might be approaching.

Still, most analysts think the Fed actually talking about reining in its asset purchases is some way off, limiting any rebound in the dollar.

"While the talk of tapering could keep investors on edge, thus subjecting markets to bouts of volatility, we believe the U.S. central bank will give ample notice before changing policy," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.

ING analysts said that any near-term spikes in the dollar "should be rather short-lived, particularly when the eurozone economic data are set to continue improving."

The New Zealand dollar pushed to as high as $0.7306, below its Wednesday high hit after hints of a 2022 rate hike by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The Australian dollar rose 0.1% to $0.7748.

China's yuan rose 0.1% to 6.3679 per dollar in offshore markets, a three-year high, with investors raising their bets on further strength, confident that the People's Bank of China is not displaying discomfort with the rally.

The strengthening yuan has helped stabilise other emerging market currencies after a selloff in recent months.

Market attention now turns to U.S. inflation data due on Friday as investors gauge the extent of a jump in price growth in recent months.

Economists expect core PCE (personal consumption expenditures) prices to jump 2.9% year-on-year in April, compared with a year-on-year rise of 1.8% a month earlier.

The latest fretting about inflation was triggered when data in mid-May showed April U.S. CPI running at an annual clip of 4.2%, well above forecasts for 3.6%.

(Editing by Giles Elgood, William Maclean)

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