The US dollar extended its one-week peaks Thursday, as two influential Federal Reserve officials maintained projections for an interest rate hike sometime this year.
New York Fed President William Dudley and Fed Governor Jerome Powell visualized scenarios in which the US central bank could make an initial rate increase earlier than expected, then proceed in a gradual manner in the long run.
However, minutes of Fed’s March meeting displayed there was a broad divergence of outlooks among policymakers, implying no consensus on the timing of a rate hike.
The greenback ended at $1.0784 per euro, previously $1.1036. Against the Japanese yen, the currency closed at ¥120.00 from Wednesday’s ¥119.65.
Figures will be the last arbiter, recent data suggested for deferred “rate lift-off. A June 18 rate lift-off is now being priced as quite a slim chance,” said David de Garis, Senior Economist at NAB.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com