Business
‘Safe haven’ dollar shrugs off US credit rating downgrade, yen rallies
The dollar barely budged on Wednesday as investors shrugged off Fitch’s US credit rating downgrade, while the yen made up ground as traders assessed the Bank of Japan’s approach to monetary policy.
The agency on Tuesday downgraded the United States to AA+ from AAA in a move that drew an angry response from the White House and surprised investors, coming despite the resolution two months ago of a debt ceiling crisis.
It cited likely fiscal deterioration over the next three years and repeated down-the-wire debt ceiling negotiations that threaten the government’s ability to pay its bills.
There was little reaction in the world’s most traded currency pair, with the euro down less than 0.1 per cent against the dollar at $1.098.
The dollar index, which tracks the currency against six peers, stood 0.23pc higher at 102.24, just shy of Tuesday’s three-week high of 102.43.
Analysts said the dollar was likely benefiting from its status as a safe haven, as investors’ risk appetite waned and global stocks fell.
“Even when there’s bad news … there is a behaviour where businesses and people think ‘I need my dollars to pay my invoices and dollar-denominated debts’,” said Jane Foley, head of FX strategy at Rabobank.
“This is why I think there really hasn’t been a huge push-back from this sort of news, because it doesn’t change the fact that people do still need dollars around the world.”
The dollar also found some support from Tuesday’s economic data that showed US job openings remained at levels consistent with a tight labour market, even as they fell to the lowest level in more than two years in June.
A separate report suggested US manufacturing might be stabilising at weaker levels.
The Japanese yen rose 0.42pc to 142.74 per dollar and looked set to reverse three sessions of losses, with traders still assessing the implications of the BOJ’s move on Friday to loosen its grip on interest rates.
Deputy governor Shinichi Uchida said on Wednesday the central bank’s decision was aimed at making its massive stimulus more sustainable and was not a prelude to an exit from ultra-low interest rates.
“I think the market is still trying to get their head around what this whole thing means,” said Rodrigo Catril, senior currency strategist at National Australia Bank.
Sterling was flat at $1.278. The Bank of England sets interest rates on Thursday and the market is uncertain whether it will deliver a 25 or 50 basis point increase from the current 5pc.
The Australian dollar fell 0.52pc to $0.658, having earlier slid to its lowest since June at $0.657.
It was extending a sharp fall from the previous session after the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday held interest rates and signalled that it might have finished tightening.
Business
Dollar treads water as Trump tariff clarity, central banks awaited
The dollar steadied against major peers on Thursday, continuing its near paralysis of the past two days before more concrete announcements on tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.
A spate of central bank policy decisions are also due over the next week, with the Bank of Japan widely expected to raise interest rates at the end of a two-day meeting on Friday.
Rate decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of next week, respectively.
The dollar index – which measures the currency versus six top rivals, including the euro and yen – was flat at 108.25, following two days of gains of around 0.1%.
On Monday, it tumbled 1.2%, its steepest one-day slide since November 2023, as Trump’s first day in office brought a barrage of executive orders, but none on tariffs.
So far this week, Trump has mooted levies of around 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China from Feb. 1. He also promised duties on European imports, without giving details.
“President Trump has so far taken a less hostile-than-expected approach to China,” amid overall “softer-than-expected policies and tone on tariffs”, said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
At the same time, “we are cautious (that) risk sentiment remains fragile and can quickly turn sour if President Trump strikes a more aggressive tone.”
The Chinese yuan was little changed at 7.2812 per dollar in offshore trading .
Wall Street’s main indexes rose Wednesday, with the S&P 500 hitting an intraday record high thanks to strong Netflix earnings and a rally in tech shares.
Japan’s yen edged up about 0.1% to 156.40 with markets pricing 95% odds of a quarter-point hike on Friday.
The euro was flat at $1.0411. The ECB is widely expected to cut rates by a quarter point next week.
The Canadian dollar held steady at C$1.4386 against the greenback. The Bank of Canada is seen as likely to reduce rates by a quarter point next Wednesday.
The Mexican peso was little changed at 20.47 versus the U.S. currency.
Business
Oil prices extend losses amid uncertainty over tariff impact
Oil prices dipped in early trade on Thursday, extending losses amid uncertainty over how proposed tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump on several countries would impact global economic growth and energy demand.
Brent crude futures fell 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $78.79 a barrel at 0135 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) eased 18 cents, or 0.2%, to $75.26.
In its previous session, Brent futures settled at $79.00 in a fifth straight day of losses. WTI futures settled at $75.44 in a fourth consecutive day of declines.
Trump has said he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine. He added these could be applied to “other participating countries” as well.
He also vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs, impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, and said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on China because fentanyl is being sent to the U.S. from there.
Meanwhile, estimates from an extended Reuters poll showed that on average U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have fallen by 1.6 million barrels in the week to Jan. 17.
Gasoline stockpiles were estimated to have risen by 2.3 million barrels last week, and distillate inventories were likely to have gained 300,000 barrels.
The poll was conducted ahead of the American Petroleum Institute industry group’s report and another from the Energy Information Administration at 12:00 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) on Thursday.
European wind shares fell on Tuesday (January 21).
The reports were delayed by a day due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday on Monday.
Business
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia reaffirm commitment to boost economic ties
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral economic ties for shared prosperity.
The commitment was expressed when Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with his Saudi counterpart Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan on the sidelines of World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the key reform measures undertaken by the Government to promote economic stability and sustainable growth.
He briefed him on structural reforms, fiscal discipline and regulatory improvements that have contributed to an improved investment climate in Pakistan.
Earlier, Aurangzeb met Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank.
They discussed cooperation between Pakistan and the World Bank, with a particular focus on Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability.
The finance minister emphasized the government’s strong partnership with the Bank and expressed hope that the World Bank would continue playing a key role in the country’s socio-economic development.
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