(Updates to U.S. afternoon trading)
- Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
The dollar dipped on Tuesday for the fourth straight session, reaching its lowest level against a basket of currencies since late February on waning fears that inflation spikes could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than anticipated.
U.S. Treasury yields stalled as investors grew more confident that the Fed will hold off on tightening its accommodative monetary policy, despite worrisome indicators that booming demand and scarce supply are sending prices soaring.
Those price increases have stoked fears of longer-term inflation, despite the central bank's assurances that the spikes will be transitory.
"The market has come around to the Fed's expectation that inflation is set to rise over near term but will plateau and decline in the coming months," said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington.
"The perception is the Fed could lag other central banks in normalizing its policies."
Several Fed policymakers are expected to speak this week and the U.S. central bank is due to release the minutes from its April policy meeting on Wednesday, all of which will be parsed for any signs of a shift in its economic outlook.
"As long as the Fed maintains this very dovish policy stance, that's going to leave the dollar vulnerable," Manimbo added. "Having said that, the Fed signaling a change in course might not be that long in the offing if we see strong data, especially in the job market and inflation."
The dollar index =USD was last down 0.48% at 89.747. The progress of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and easing of measures to contain the pandemic have lifted higher-risk currencies that stand to benefit most from economic revival.
For an interactive graphic on worldwide vaccine rollout and access, click here https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access.
The euro EUR=EBS gained 0.63% to $1.223, passing its highest level since Feb. 25, and the dollar fell 0.25% to 108.89 Japanese yen JPY=D3 .
The British pound GBP=D3 , buoyed by the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, passed the $1.42 level for the first time since Feb. 24.
"It's a good day for the pound," Manimbo said. "The Bank of England has upgraded outlook for the UK economy and the pound is starting to bear the fruit of that. Britain's strong vaccine rollout has pulled growth forward."
Rising oil prices supported the Norwegian crown NOK=D3 and helped boost the Canadian dollar CAD=D3 to a six-year high.
Bitcoin BTC=BTSP dipped 1.9% to a more than three-month low, extending its slide after Tesla Inc TSLA.O boss Elon Musk dampened enthusiasm for the cryptocurrency over the weekend.
Rival digital currency ether ETH=BTSP rose 2.48% to $3,363.
======================================================== Currency bid prices at 3:24PM (1924 GMT)Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Dollar index =USD 89.7370 90.1840 -0.48% -0.271% +90.2040 +89.6890 Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.2228 $1.2152 +0.63% +0.08% +$1.2234 +$1.2153 Dollar/Yen JPY=D3 108.8900 109.1750 -0.25% +5.43% +109.2750 +108.8550 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 133.14 132.73 +0.31% +4.90% +133.1600 +132.7000 Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.8966 0.9033 -0.73% +1.35% +0.9035 +0.8961 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 $1.4191 $1.4139 +0.38% +3.88% +$1.4220 +$1.4135 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2053 1.2068 -0.11% -5.33% +1.2081 +1.2014 Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 $0.7803 $0.7770 +0.40% +1.40% +$0.7813 +$0.7765 Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0964 1.0974 -0.09% +1.45% +1.0982 +1.0952 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8615 0.8593 +0.26% -3.60% +0.8619 +0.8582 NZ NZD=D3 $0.7252 $0.7216 +0.50% +0.99% +$0.7271 +$0.7211 Dollar/DollarDollar/Norway NOK=D3 8.2065 8.2570 -0.49% -4.31% +8.2580 +8.1795 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.0363 10.0345 +0.02% -4.11% +10.0530 +10.0019 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.2757 8.3285 -0.03% +0.97% +8.3434 +8.2743 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.1195 10.1225 -0.03% +0.43% +10.1486 +10.1155 <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5EInflation expectations https://tmsnrt.rs/3hBcFsG Currencies and vaccination rates https://tmsnrt.rs/33TbYTw
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