US recap: USD sells back as traders focus on Jackson Hole, soft Fed path
Aug 16 (Reuters) -The USD index slid 0.47% to 102.56, holding near the low end of Friday's 103.05-102.55 range in NorAm afternoon trading. The fall in housing permits and building starts hinted at slow growth, more an excuse than a reason for the dip.
UST yields traded lower on the day with the belly of the curve having traded in a 8bp range.
Markets will be focused on the upcoming Jackson Hole Symposium, August 22-24, and Fed Chair Powell's expected speech where he is seen touting Fed rate cuts beginning in September.
EUR/USD gained 0.36% to 1.1011, having traded in a 1.10115-1.0973 range. The dollar is weak amid upbeat global growth expectations after retail sales rises in the U.S. and UK lifted risk.
EUR bulls are shrugging off reduced Fed rate expectations for a 50bp cut in Sept, and diminishing Fed cut expectations by year-end 2024. With Fed rate cut expectations ebbing, resistance at the week's high by 1.1048 is likely to cap EUR/USD.
USD/JPY rose to 148.26 in NY afternoon trading, the early NorAm, post-housing data slide to 147.61 quickly reversed. The disappointing housing data not likely enough to reverse recent bullish USD tones, as significant U.S.-Japan rate differentials are likely to continue to favor USD longs, barring more hawkish BoJ rhetoric. Softer US yields saw USD/JPY slip below 147.80 late in the day.
GBP/USD rallied to a 3-week high at 1.2930 after UK retail sales rose in the month of July. Like the U.S., the upbeat sales data stoked less-dovish central bank expectations. While no hike is expected, persistent economic growth is expected to reduce the BoE's rate cut path.
LSEG's IRPR now indicates 36% odds for a 25bp cut in September, down from better than 50% earlier in August. The less-dovish BoE policy path is likely to have GBP bulls target 1.30 and the 2024 high at 1.3044 struck on July 17.
Equities traded higher in NorAm's afternoon, with the Nasdaq +0.29% and the S&P +0.28%.
Gold established a new all-time high at $2,500.99 as traders prep for September Fed cuts. Silver hovered near flat, with both metals on pace for weekly gains amid the recent risk rally.
For more click on FXBUZ
Editing by Terence Gabriel
Paul Spirgel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.
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