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US dollar hovers near 3-1/5 year low as traders focus on Fed

Economies.com
2025-07-02 11:00AM UTC

The US dollar kept falling to near February 2022 lows against a basket of major rivals, as traders assess the impact of US President Trump’s massive tax bill and tariff deadline.

 

Now traders also await crucial US payrolls data for June, scheduled on Friday.

 

The euro fell 0.3% today to $1.1774, still near September 2021 highs, while Sterling lost 0.15% to $1.3722, away from 3-⅕ year highs. 

 

The dollar rose 0.3% against the Japanese yen to 143.8, sending the dollar index slightly higher towards 96.744.

 

The first half of 2025 has been the worst for the dollar since the seventies, due to factors that include: 

 

Political uncertainty that pushed fund managers to hedge their dollar holdings

 

Reduced long-term buy positions on the dollar

Increasing bets that the Fed will start easing monetary policies this year.

 

US President Donald Trump’s recent tax bill raised concerns about the financial stability of America, with ongoing uncertainty as well about US trade deals. 

 

Investors are now betting on a faster pace of Fed rate cuts this year, while waiting for crucial US data this week, including the payrolls report on Friday. 

 

Trump continued to pressure the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, and sent Fed Chair Powell a list of interest rates by global central banks, saying that US rates should be between the 0.5% Japanese rate and the 1.75% Danish rate.

 

US Rates

 

Investors interpreted Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s last week Congressional testimony as leaning cautious, after saying that rate cuts are likely if inflation doesn’t rise this summer in response to tariffs.

 

According to the Fedwatch tool, the odds of a Fed 0.25% interest rate cut in July stood at 20%.

 

The odds of such a cut in September stood at a much better 93%.

Gold declines under pressure from the stronger dollar

Economies.com
2025-07-02 09:23AM UTC

Gold prices fell in European trade on Wednesday for the first time in three days under pressure from the stronger dollar.

 

The dollar held its ground above three-year lows after US job opportunities data, which rose in May, with traders awaiting more crucial labor data later on.

 

The Price

 

Gold prices fell 0.35% today to $3327 an ounce, with a session-high at $3345.

 

On Tuesday, gold prices rose 1.1% away from recent five-week lows at $3247.

 

US Dollar

 

The dollar index rose .3% on Wednesday away from three-week lows at 96.38, on track for the first profit in eight days.

 

Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.

 

The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.

 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans. 

 

In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement. 

 

Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt. 

 

US Rates

 

Investors interpreted Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s last week Congressional testimony as leaning cautious, after saying that rate cuts are likely if inflation doesn’t rise this summer in response to tariffs.

 

According to the Fedwatch tool, the odds of a Fed 0.25% interest rate cut in July stood at 20%.

 

The odds of such a cut in September stood at a much better 93%.

 

SPDR

 

Gold holdings at the SPDR Gold Trust fell 4.3 tons yesterday to a total of 948.23 tons, the lowest since June 18.

Euro relinquishes four-year peak ahead of Lagarde's remarks

Economies.com
2025-07-02 06:00AM UTC

Euro fell in European trade on Wednesday away from a four-year high against the dollar, on track for the first loss in ten days on profit-taking. 

 

The US dollar index is holding its ground above three-year lows as US job openings surged in May, with traders now awaiting more crucial US labor data.

 

Otherwise, recent eurozone data raised doubts about the odds of an ECB interest rate cut in July as traders ECB President Christine Lagarde’s remarks later today in Portugal at the Central Banks Forum.

 

The Price

 

The EUR/USD price fell 0.15% to $1.788, with a session-high at $1.1810.

 

The euro closed up 0.2% on Tuesday against the dollar, the ninth profit in a row, and the longest such streak of daily gains in 2025, scaling a four-year peak at $1.1830.

 

The Dollar

 

The dollar index rose 0.15% on Wednesday, holding above three-year lows at 96.38, and on track for the first profit in eight sessions on short-covering. 

 

Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.

 

The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.

 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans. 

 

In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement. 

 

Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt. 

 

European Rates

 

Eurozone consumer prices rose 2% y/y in June as expected, up from 1.9% in May.

 

According to a Reuters source, most ECB members now aim at holding interest rates unchanged in July, with the global markets now expecting just an additional 25 basis points of rate cuts by the end of the year. 

 

The odds of a 0.25% ECB rate cut in July now stood below 30%, with traders awaiting more eurozone data and remarks by ECB officials to gather more clues. 

Yen gives up four-week high on profit-taking

Economies.com
2025-07-02 05:40AM UTC

The yen fell in Asian trade on Wednesday against a basket of major rivals, giving up four-week highs against the greenback, and on track for the first loss in three days on profit-taking.

 

The US dollar index is holding its ground above three-year lows as US job openings surged in May, with traders now awaiting more crucial US labor data.

 

The odds of a Japanese interest rate hike in July tumbled following the Bank of Japan’s latest policy meeting, with traders now awaiting more Japanese labor and inflation data to gather clues.

 

The Price

 

The USD/JPY price rose 0.25% today to 143.74 yen per dollar, with a session-low at 143.31.

 

The yen rose 0.4% on Tuesday against the dollar, hitting a four-week high at 142.68 as the dollar continued to face a heavy selloff. 

 

US Dollar

 

The dollar index rose 0.15% on Wednesday, holding above three-year lows at 96.38, and on track for the first profit in eight sessions on short-covering. 

 

Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.

 

The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.

 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans. 

 

In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement. 

 

Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt. 

 

Japanese Rates

 

The odds of a Bank of Japan’s 0.25% interest rate hike in July is still below 40%.

 

Now investors await more clues from Japan this week to form a more accurate prediction.