* Yen pressured as BoJ cuts inflation forecast
* Fed widely seen keeping easy policy stance
* Bitcoin continues rally, ethereum hits record high
* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(Adds comment, updates prices)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters) - The dollar was mixed against major peers on Tuesday, gaining against the
yen and commodity currencies, with investors biding time ahead of a policy decision by the Federal Reserve
on Wednesday.
The yen, meanwhile, struggled after the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy on hold and projected that
inflation will fail to reach its key 2% target through early 2023. Trading in currencies was largely subdued ahead of the Fed's two-day meeting, which ends on Wednesday,
when no change to policy is expected.
The market will pay close attention to comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who is likely to
address concerns and questions about whether improving economic conditions warrant a withdrawal of monetary
easing. Analysts, however, expect Powell to stick to the Fed's ultra-accommodative stance, which should
weigh on Treasury yields and the dollar.
"The Fed is widely expected to maintain current policy settings on Wednesday, but traders are well aware
that a hawkish shift - an acknowledgement of underlying economic strength - could trigger renewed dollar
upside," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Cambridge Global Payments in Toronto.
"If signs of optimism leak through in the official statement or during the press conference, investors
are likely to bring tapering expectations forward and drive Treasury yields upward. Awareness of this risk
is keeping traders parked in the dollar," he added.
In afternoon trading, the dollar index =USD , which tracks the U.S. currency against six peers, was
flat at 90.897, after dipping to the lowest since March 3 overnight at 90.679.
The dollar added 0.6% to 108.72 yen JPY= against the Japanese unit, another safe-haven currency,
continuing its rise from the seven-week low of 107.48 reached on Friday. Action Economics noted in its blog
that the currency pair closed above the 50-day moving day average of 108.367 for the first time since
January, a sign of strength for the dollar.
Japan last week declared a third state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, and two other prefectures to
contain the pandemic, clouding prospects for a fragile recovery and the yen's outlook. The dollar has fallen nearly 3% since late March as U.S. Treasury yields traded in narrow ranges after
retreating from a 14-month high of 1.776%, slashing the currency's rate appeal.
The euro was little changed at $1.2087 EUR=EBS , not far from the two-month high of $1.2117 reached on
Monday.
The commodity-linked Australian dollar, a barometer of risk appetite, eased 0.5% to US$0.7765 AUD=D3 ,
after a sharp rally overnight that took it just shy of a five-week peak.
The offshore Chinese yuan slipped 0.1% to 6.48 per U.S. dollar, after rising to a seven-week top of
6.4710 per dollar CNH=EBS on Monday.
In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin BTC=BTSP hit a high of $55,354.59, following a 10% surge on Monday amid
reports JPMorgan Chase JPM.N is planning to offer a managed bitcoin fund. That snapped a five-day losing streak that had taken the digital token to the cusp of $47,000, with
losses accelerating amid worries about U.S. President Joe Biden's plan to raise capital gains taxes. Bitcoin
was last up 1.5% at $54,883.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap, hit a record high of $2,683.65
ETH=BTSP . ========================================================
Currency bid prices at 3:21PM (1921 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Dollar index =USD 90.8870 90.8850 +0.02% 1.007% +91.0720 +90.8100
Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.2088 $1.2087 +0.02% -1.06% +$1.2093 +$1.2058
Dollar/Yen JPY=EBS 108.7100 108.0950 +0.58% +5.22% +108.7450 +108.0900
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 131.40 130.61 +0.60% +3.53% +131.4500 +130.5800
Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.9141 0.9141 +0.00% +3.32% +0.9171 +0.9124
Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 $1.3903 $1.3906 -0.01% +1.77% +$1.3924 +$1.3860
Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2401 1.2394 +0.06% -2.61% +1.2418 +1.2389
Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 $0.7768 $0.7802 -0.44% +0.98% +$0.7803 +$0.7762
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1049 1.1047 +0.02% +2.24% +1.1062 +1.1024
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8692 0.8693 -0.01% -2.74% +0.8701 +0.8675
NZ NZD=D3 $0.7209 $0.7236 -0.38% +0.38% +$0.7237 +$0.7202
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK=D3 8.2710 8.2885 -0.07% -3.55% +8.3135 +8.2745
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.9997 10.0220 -0.22% -4.46% +10.0327 +9.9944
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.3789 8.3783 +0.02% +2.23% +8.4191 +8.3747
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.1283 10.1259 +0.02% +0.52% +10.1526 +10.1156
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World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
Federal Open Market Committee projections https://tmsnrt.rs/3sQouNv
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