US dollar climbs to new 38-year peak vs yen; euro rises after French elections
French election risk being unwound - analyst
Yen slumps as Japan intervention risks grow
U.S. manufacturing index comes in lower than expected
U.S. construction spending falls
Adds new comment, graphic, updates prices
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) -The U.S. dollar surged to a fresh 38-year peak against the yen on Monday, as Treasury yields on the long end rose sharply,keeping investors on heightened alert for intervention from Japanese authorities to bolster the country's currency.
The yen's weakness was exacerbated by data showingJapan's economy shrank more than initially reported in the first quarter.
The euro, on the other hand,climbed on Monday after a convincing and historic win by the French far right in the first round of parliamentary elections fell slightly short of some expectations, leaving the final result dependent on party deals before a second round next weekend.
In afternoon trading, the dollar soared to 161.72 yen JPY=EBS, its strongest level since 1986. It was last up 0.4% at 161.48 yen. The yen has fallen more than 12% this year.
"We're close to what would be defined as a one-way market, gains in 12 of the last 15 days, and five of the last six weeks," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist, at Bannockburn Global Forex in New York.
"People know that they are on thin ice on intervention. But they know that the weakness of the yen is related to the rise in Treasury yields and the slowness of Japan to raise rates. So even if Japan intervenes, the market will view intervention as an opportunity to buy dollars."
Data showing weaker-than-expected economic growth added to the uncertainty about the Bank of Japan's next move in interest rates.
The BoJ meets in late July and has hinted that it could raise borrowing costs, potentially helping close the yawning gap between Japanese and U.S. rates that has hammered the yen this year by causing investors to flock to the higher returns on U.S. bonds.
Separate data on Monday showed the business mood in Japan's service-sector soured in June, offsetting a big lift in factory confidence.
The yen's fall pushed the euro to a 32-year high of 173.68 yen EURJPY=EBS.
The euro was also higher against the dollar, up 0.2% at $1.0736 EUR=EBS.
EASING EURO RISKS?
Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party won the first round of France's parliamentary elections on Sunday by a large margin, exit polls showed, although analysts noted it won a smaller share of the vote than some polls had initially projected, triggering a rally in stocks and bonds.
The euro has lost around 1.3% since the French far right triumphed in European parliamentary elections in early June, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap domestic election.
"It's an alleviation of risks. We're seeing a lot of hedges going into the French election getting unwound," said Simon Harvey, head of FX analysis, at Monex Europe in London.
Investors have been concerned that the RN could come to power through "cohabitation" with Macron and push a high-spending and euro-sceptic agenda.
The rise in the euro briefly sentthe dollar a touch lower against a basket of currencies, though the greenback was on the back foot after data on Friday showed U.S. inflation cooled in May, cementing expectations the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates later this year.
The dollar index =USD was last up 0.1% at105.84.
Against the dollar, sterling GBP=D3 was flat at$1.2643, while the Aussie AUD=D3 was down 0.2%at US$0.6654.
The dollar briefly slippedafter data showing aU.S. manufacturing index fell to 48.5 in June, lower than the forecast of 49.1.
U.S. construction spending for May also came in weaker than expected, falling 0.1%, compared with expectations for a 0.2% rise.
Market pricing now points to about a 63% chance of a Fed cut in September, as compared to a 55% chance a month ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Currency bid prices at 1 July 07:45 p.m. GMT | |||||||
Description | RIC | Last | U.S. Close Previous Session | Pct Change | YTD Pct | High Bid | Low Bid |
Dollar index | =USD | 105.82 | 105.72 | 0.11% | 4.39% | 105.98 | 105.42 |
Euro/Dollar | EUR=EBS | 1.0737 | 1.0713 | 0.22% | -2.73% | $1.0776 | $1.0718 |
Dollar/Yen | JPY=D3 | 161.47 | 160.88 | 0.38% | 14.49% | 161.72 | 160.82 |
Euro/Yen | EURJPY= | 1.0737 | 172.36 | 0.59% | 11.4% | 173.67 | 172.61 |
Dollar/Swiss | CHF=EBS | 0.9033 | 0.8988 | 0.51% | 7.34% | 0.9045 | 0.8984 |
Sterling/Dollar | GBP=D3 | 1.2642 | 1.2646 | -0.02% | -0.65% | $1.271 | $1.0718 |
Dollar/Canadian | CAD=D3 | 1.3737 | 1.368 | 0.43% | 3.64% | 1.3748 | 1.366 |
Aussie/Dollar | AUD=D3 | 0.6653 | 0.667 | -0.24% | -2.41% | $0.6689 | $0.6645 |
Euro/Swiss | EURCHF= | 0.9699 | 0.9624 | 0.78% | 4.45% | 0.971 | 0.9646 |
Euro/Sterling | EURGBP= | 0.849 | 0.8471 | 0.22% | -2.05% | 0.8498 | 0.8475 |
NZ Dollar/Dollar | NZD=D3 | 0.6073 | 0.6091 | -0.27% | -3.88% | $0.611 | 0.6066 |
Dollar/Norway | NOK= | 10.6596 | 10.6642 | -0.04% | 5.18% | 10.6854 | 10.6024 |
Euro/Norway | EURNOK= | 11.4416 | 11.4312 | 0.09% | 1.94% | 11.4668 | 11.4119 |
Dollar/Sweden | SEK= | 10.6208 | 10.5908 | 0.28% | 5.5% | 10.643 | 10.541 |
Euro/Sweden | EURSEK= | 11.4029 | 11.3525 | 0.44% | 2.49% | 11.4176 | 11.3436 |
World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
Euro perks back up after first round of French election https://reut.rs/45OrcID
Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Additional reporting by Harry Robertson in London and Rae Wee in Singapore; Editing by Stephen Coates, Jason Neely, David Evans and Andrea Ricci
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