Rising Fed Fund Rates Offer US Dollar Support (EUR/USD), UK Retail Sales Data Came In Hotter Than Expected (EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY)
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Summary:
- Rising Fed funds rate estimates have benefited the dollar.
- U.K retail sales data.
- JPY rallied on Friday.
USD supported by hawkish fed
The market is reflecting bullish signals for this currency pair. Throughout the past week, the EUR/USD pair has struggled to find any definitive direction, and this morning was no exception. As bulls and bears continue their conflict, the pair has stayed largely range bound because next week will bring a number of important data events.
Since last week's US CPI reading, the pair had experienced a rally, but this week's return of the dollar bulls has stopped any effort at an upward rise. Rising Fed funds rate estimates have benefited the dollar, with markets now projecting a peak rate of roughly 5%, up from 4.75% last week. As a result of this as well as rising Treasury yields, investors have continued to view the dollar as their favorite haven, keeping it strong.
EUR/USD Price Chart
GBP struggles as UK Retail Data misses market expectations
The market is reflecting bullish signals for this currency pair. After Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics revealed that UK retail sales collapsed in September, the pound fell into the week's final session, effectively wiping out more than two years of gains made since the first coronavirus-inspired closure of the economy in 2020.
When measured by the number of products purchased, retail expenditure declined by 1.4% in September. This was a far worse decline than the -0.5% consensus estimate and came along with a downward revision to the ONS estimate for August sales growth, which was restated as -1.7%.
EUR/GBP Price Chart
JPY rally supporting GBP
The market is reflecting bullish signals for this currency pair. A stunning Japanese Yen surge that seemed to be the catalyst for a market-wide decline in Dollar exchange rates, which was then followed by rumors of direct involvement from the Tokyo government and Bank of Japan (BoJ).
The Yen appreciated by over five huge figures versus the dollar, which had previously run roughshod over all other currencies, while the Pound Sterling, which had been mired in the red, saw a notable rally against it late on Friday.
GBP/JPY Price Chart
Sources: finance.yahoo.com, dailyfx.com, poundsterlinglive.com
