* German inflation slowed in September
* Seasonal demand boosts greenback
* U.S.-China trade talks in focus
(Updates prices)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The euro fell to its lowest in
two-and-a-half years against the U.S. dollar on Monday as
concerns about euro zone growth weighed on the single currency,
while the greenback benefited from seasonal demand and
uncertainty arising from the U.S.-China trade war.
German annual inflation unexpectedly slowed for the third
consecutive month in September, data showed on Monday.
“The German CPI print this morning was a little bit on the
disappointing side,” said Bipan Rai, North America head of FX
strategy at CIBC Capital Markets in Toronto.
Germany's leading economic institutes have also revised down
their growth forecast for Europe's biggest economy for this
year, two sources with knowledge of their decision told Reuters
on Monday.
The revisions, which feed into the government's own output
projections, reflect growing concerns that a slowdown in Germany
driven by a recession in the export-dependent manufacturing
sector could hamper the broader euro zone economy. Demand for dollars heading into the last quarter of the year
is also boosting the greenback.
“In Q4 we tend to see strong seasonal demand for the U.S.
dollar, and given the fact that euro/dollar is the most
frequently traded pair in the foreign exchange market, that
certainly means that we could be seeing some further downside in
the euro going forward,” Rai said.
The euro fell 0.36% to $1.0899, after earlier falling to
$1.0883, the lowest since May 2017.
Investors are also focused on the U.S.-China trade war,
which is being blamed for slowing global growth.
President Donald Trump's administration is considering
delisting Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges, three
sources briefed on the matter said on Friday, in what would be a
radical escalation of U.S.-China trade tensions. China warned on Monday of instability in international
markets from any "decoupling" of China and the United States.
Washington and China are preparing for another round of
trade talks scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11.
Uncertainty around the outcome of an impeachment inquiry
into Trump may also provide safe-haven demand for the greenback.
Trump on Monday escalated his attacks against the lawmaker
leading the impeachment inquiry against him, suggesting that
Representative Adam Schiff be arrested for "treason."
New Zealand's dollar dropped as low as $0.6247 NZD= , its
weakest since 2015, after a survey showed business sentiment
weakening to an 11-1/2 year low in September, strengthening the
case for a reduction in interest rates. Currency bid prices at 2:18PM (1818 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.0899 $1.0938 -0.36% -4.97% +1.0947 +1.0886
Dollar/Yen JPY= 108.1100 107.9200 +0.18% -1.95% +108.1700 +107.7500
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 117.83 118.07 -0.20% -6.65% +118.1800 +117.5500
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9984 0.9907 +0.78% +1.73% +0.9987 +0.9905
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2282 1.2288 -0.05% -3.72% +1.2346 +1.2277
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3244 1.3244 +0.00% -2.88% +1.3259 +1.3225
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6750 0.6765 -0.22% -4.24% +0.6769 +0.6742
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0884 1.0842 +0.39% -3.29% +1.0885 +1.0836
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8870 0.8897 -0.30% -1.27% +0.8905 +0.8833
NZ NZD= 0.6260 0.6295 -0.56% -6.80% +0.6303 +0.6250
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.0900 9.0753 +0.16% +5.22% +9.0981 +9.0622
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.9100 9.9286 -0.19% +0.04% +9.9450 +9.8869
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.8417 9.7934 +0.12% +9.79% +9.8493 +9.7863
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.7285 10.7156 +0.12% +4.53% +10.7333 +10.6950
GRAPHIC-World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>