Upbeat euro zone data underpins euro
Dollar headed for first weekly gain in nearly two months
Focus on Fed meeting in May; rate hike priced in
(Adds comment, bullets, byline, NEW YORK dateline, FX table; updates prices)
The U.S. dollar slipped against most major currencies on Friday, as investors digested mounting evidence that growth in the world's largest economy is slowing and priced in a likely pause in tightening by the Federal Reserve at the June meeting after a widely-expected interest rate hike next month.
In the case of the euro, a surprising recovery in the euro zone economy in April underpinned the currency.
The greenback, however, was headed for its first weekly gain in nearly two months on rate increase expectations for May.
"Expected growth differentials have narrowed slightly against the dollar in the last few hours, with better-than-expected purchasing manager indices pointing to more resilient economic activity in the UK and euro area," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist, at Corpay in Toronto.
"We're also seeing a continued decline in implied volatility across most asset classes as investors position for an imminent end to the global monetary tightening cycle - and that is weakening demand for traditional safe havens," he added.
The dollar index, which measures the performance of the U.S. currency against six others, slipped 0.1% on the day to 101.70 =USD and headed for a weekly gain of about 0.2%, its first since late February.
Elsewhere, the recovery in the euro zone unexpectedly gathered pace this month, thanks to a boom in services sector demand compensating for a deepening decline in manufacturing.
Preliminary surveys showed that same dynamic in Germany and France, the region's two largest economies.
The euro was last up 0.1% against the dollar at $1.095 EUR=EBS , but recovered from a session low of $1.0938. Against sterling, it rose 0.4% to 88.46 pence.
But the story this week has been focused on the dollar as investors braced for the end of the Fed's tightening cycle. Fed officials have been at pains to point out that inflation remains uncomfortably high and rates must keep rising.
Money markets show traders believe there will be a quarter-point U.S. rate hike next month, which in theory is supportive of the dollar, followed by a pause in June. The rate futures market has also priced in rate cuts this year as the economy slows. FEDWATCH
"Although economic activity is cooling, rate differentials are still dollar-supportive, and the U.S. remains the cleanest dirty shirt on the global economic landscape," Corpay's Schamotta said.
In other currencies, sterling GBP=D3 fell 0.2% to $1.2412, having dropped by as much as 0.54% earlier on.
The yen JPY=EBS was one of the stronger performers after data showed Japanese consumer inflation held steady above the central bank's target in March, putting pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to ditch its ultra-loose monetary policy stance.
Incoming Governor Kazuo Ueda chairs his first BOJ policy meeting next week. The dollar fell 0.5% against the Japanese unit to 133.605 yen.
======================================================== Currency bid prices at 9:41AM (1341 GMT)Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Dollar index =USD 101.6600 101.7800 -0.11% -1.768% +102.0700 +101.6400 Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.0992 $1.0972 +0.18% +2.58% +$1.0993 +$1.0938 Dollar/Yen JPY=EBS 133.5550 134.2400 -0.51% +1.87% +134.2800 +133.5500 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 146.80 147.27 -0.32% +4.63% +147.3000 +146.4100 Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.8909 0.8925 -0.17% -3.64% +0.8953 +0.8909 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 $1.2415 $1.2444 -0.23% +2.66% +$1.2446 +$1.2377 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.3533 1.3479 +0.41% -0.11% +1.3542 +1.3467 Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 $0.6706 $0.6743 -0.53% -1.61% +$0.6745 +$0.6678 Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 0.9790 0.9789 +0.01% -1.05% +0.9803 +0.9787 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8851 0.8814 +0.42% +0.08% +0.8861 +0.8813 NZ NZD=D3 $0.6155 $0.6178 -0.37% -3.06% +$0.6180 +$0.6127 Dollar/DollarDollar/Norway NOK=D3 10.5780 10.6000 -0.08% +7.93% +10.6790 +10.5810 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 11.6242 11.6099 +0.12% +10.77% +11.6940 +11.5896 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 10.3088 10.3054 +0.24% -0.95% +10.3581 +10.2986 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 11.3280 11.3010 +0.24% +1.60% +11.3407 +11.2990 <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
