Yen nurses losses, euro subdued ahead of inflation data

Credit: Reuters/Sergio Perez

1 of 4. A one Euro coin is placed over one dollar notes in this illustrative photograph taken in Madrid November 17, 2011.

The dollar held steady at 102.84 yen, staying above Friday's session low near 102.03 yen.

The New Zealand dollar rose as far as 89.26 yen earlier on Monday, a level not seen since November 2007.

Traders said China's official manufacturing PMI survey due on Tuesday will be closely watched after a recent string of disappointing data pointed to a slowdown in the world's second biggest economy.

'We expect a decline to 49.8 in March from 50.2 in February, falling below 50 for the first time in 17 months, as growth momentum continues to fade. This should further heighten the urgency to ease policy,' analysts at Nomura wrote in a note to clients.

Investors will also be keeping a close eye on euro zone inflation figures due later on Monday after data late last week showed a key measure of German inflation unexpectedly slowed in March.

The soft reading raises the downside risk for euro zone inflation, which is set to stay in what European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi has called the 'danger zone' of below 1 percent for a sixth month.

Yet, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann on Saturday said the ECB should not over-react to the slowdown in inflation as it was caused largely by temporary cyclical factors.

In any case, traders said a weak number will no doubt put the ECB under more pressure to act and that would be negative for the euro.

The euro held steady at $1.3749, having plumbed a one-month low near $1.3705 on Friday. Against the yen, the euro eased 0.1 percent to around 141.33 yen.

The euro, which set a two-year high of $1.3967 earlier in March, was on track to end the January-March quarter little changed compared to levels seen at the end of December.

'The euro has, for us, been a frustrating trade... We, like most others, are bearish euro over the medium-term,' said Sim Moh Siong, FX strategist for Bank of Singapore.

The euro, however, has been supported by the euro zone's current account surplus and the reluctance of the ECB to ease monetary policy further, Sim said.

Later on Monday, investors will also be watching comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen for any fresh hints on the monetary policy outlook.

The dollar had gained a lift earlier this month after Yellen said the Fed could raise interest rates six months after its bond-buying stimulus ends, remarks that were seen as suggesting the possibility of a rate hike as early as spring 2015.

Commodity currencies, which have been riding high on expectations of more stimulus from China, took a breather against the dollar following their recent rally.

The Australian dollar slipped 0.3 percent to $0.9221, down from a four-month high of $0.9296 set on Friday.

The New Zealand dollar held steady at $0.8649, after touching a peak of $0.8698 on Friday, its strongest level in 2-1/2 years.

(Editing by Kim Coghill)

Lokasi:

Share :