Dollar grinds higher as U.S.-China tensions and virus unnerve investors

The U.S. dollar edged up on Tuesday as diplomatic tensions between the United States and China and rising coronavirus cases knocked investor confidence, although moves in currency markets were small in a quiet session. While stock markets fell as investors turned cautious, the safe-haven yen was little changed and the Swiss franc – another currency traders buy in times of uncertainty – rose only slightly versus the euro, suggesting limited concern among FX investors.

A resurgence of novel coronavirus infections has caused some areas to place new restrictions on business activity, injecting some caution into the multi-month stock market rally that is betting on a rapid economic recovery. Markets now face an additional threat from tit-for-tat retaliation between Washington and Beijing over access to U.S. financial markets, civil liberties in Hong Kong and territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Against a basket of currencies the dollar index was last up 0.1% at 96.662, keeping it firmly with a tight range it has traded in since May. The euro was down 0.1% against the dollar at $1.1331. Currencies heavily exposed to global trade sentiment were down, but not by much. The Australian dollar lost 0.1% to $0.6930, while China’s offshore yuan slipped to 7.0185 yuan per dollar.

The yuan was little moved by data showing Chinese imports in June rose for the first time since the coronavirus panic paralysed the economy, as investors focused on tensions with Washington. In a busy day for data, Germany’s ZEW economic sentiment indicator is due at 0900 GMT. U.S. inflation numbers for June will follow at 1230 GMT. The British pound fell after the economy rebounded in May at a much slower pace than expected, calling into question the V-shaped recovery many economists have been forecasting. Sterling was last down 0.3% at $1.2513.

Dollar grinds higher as U.S.-China tensions and virus unnerve investors, Reuters, Jul 14