S&P 500 falls as ongoing government shutdown, trade jitters weigh
Investing.com - The U.S. dollar stabilized Monday after the previous volatile week, with speeches from a number of Federal Reserve officials throughout the week set to provide direction ahead of the release of key inflation data.
At 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded just lower to 97.155.
The index fell to over three-year lows last week in the wake of the Fed’s interest rate cut, before rebounding sharply in turbulent trade.
Fed speakers in focus
Traders are focusing on comments from a series of Fed policymakers this week for guidance as to future monetary policy in the wake of the U.S. central bank restarting its rate-cutting cycle last week, its first reduction in interest rates this year.
Fed policymakers John Williams, Thomas Barkin and Stephen Miran are due to speak at separate events on Monday, while speeches from Raphael Bostic and Michelle Bowman, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell in particular, will be in focus on Tuesday.
These comments, as well as upcoming economic data, will be crucial in determining investor sentiment in the near term, with two more Fed meetings left this year.
The U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, comes out on Friday, and the August release is expected to show a slight increase to 2.8% from the annual figure of 2.6% seen the prior month.
“Plenty of Fed speakers this week will clarify the FOMC’s policy views after Chair Powell’s cautious remarks last week,” said analysts at ING, in a note. “With the Dot Plot signalling two more cuts this year, we don’t expect much support for the dollar, which is looking moderately expensive in the short-term.”
Euro edges higher
In Europe, EUR/USD traded 0.1% higher to 1.1762, ahead of the release of the latest eurozone consumer confidence release later in the session.
That said, “this week’s eurozone calendar revolves around tomorrow’s PMIs, which are expected to flatten up after some good August readings. Later this week, the German Ifo will complete the activity survey picture,” ING added.
“EUR/USD’s short-term fair value is 1.190 as of this morning, and we see upside risks beyond the 1.180 level this week as the dollar may shed its post-Fed gains.”
GBP/USD traded 0.2% higher to 1.3499, bouncing after sterling fell to a two-week low last week, pressured by domestic headwinds after a surge in U.K. public borrowing and a Bank of England rate decision that laid bare the challenge for policymakers in balancing growth and inflation.
PBoC keeps rates unchanged
Elsewhere, USD/CNY traded slightly lower to 7.1138 after the People’s Bank of China kept its benchmark loan prime rate unchanged earlier Monday, as expected, maintaining record-low levels amid domestic economic challenges.
The PBOC left its one-year LPR at 3.0%, and the five-year LPR at 3.5%
Despite sluggish factory output and retail sales, the central bank opted to maintain its policy stance, possibly awaiting the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session in October for a reassessment.
USD/JPY gained 0.1% to 148.09, trading in a tight range in the wake of the Bank of Japan leaving interest rates unchanged last week, while AUD/USD slipped 0.2% to 0.6579 after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock noted that recent economic data have largely matched expectations, though the global outlook remains uncertain.