Dollar at Nearly 1-Month High
The dollar index extended its gains to 102.5 on Wednesday, following a 0.5% advance in the previous session, reaching its highest level in about a month. The rally came as investors increasingly priced in a more aggressive pace of Fed rate hikes in the coming months, following hotter-than-expected inflation data and increasingly hawkish remarks from central bank officials. Adding to the hawkish tone, Fed Governor Christopher Waller warned that a 50bps rate hike in December could be warranted, while Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan backed at least two further 25bps increases. Markets currently assign an approximately 86% probability to a 25bps hike at the Fed’s December meeting, while investors are also beginning to factor in additional increases in January and potentially April. Meanwhile, oil prices recovered, trimming losses following a two-day decline. The greenback strengthened against all major currencies, posting its largest gains against the Canadian dollar and the Swiss franc.
The dollar index extended its gains to 102.5 on Wednesday, following a 0.5% advance in the previous session, reaching its highest level in about a month. The rally came as investors increasingly priced in a more aggressive pace of Fed rate hikes in the coming months, following hotter-than-expected inflation data and increasingly hawkish remarks from central bank officials. Adding to the hawkish tone, Fed Governor Christopher Waller warned that a 50bps rate hike in December could be warranted, while Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan backed at least two further 25bps increases.
Markets currently assign an approximately 86% probability to a 25bps hike at the Fed’s December meeting, while investors are also beginning to factor in additional increases in January and potentially April. Meanwhile, oil prices recovered, trimming losses following a two-day decline. The greenback strengthened against all major currencies, posting its largest gains against the Canadian dollar and the Swiss franc.