Dollar on back foot amid GA runoff election and stronger China fix
Despite risk-off trading in equities and higher volatility, the dollar dropped and commodity linked currencies outperformed. The pound, while still higher than the greenback, unperformed other G-10 gainers as the UK re-entered a lockdown expected to last till mid-February. China’s central bank lifted the fix for the yuan to the highest level in 30 months, boosting demand for riskier currencies.
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FX Rates
January 5, 2021Rates are not real time. Rates are today's indicative mid-market rates as of time of publishing, which may vary. Please contact SVB for a current quote.
EUR/USD 1.2270 GBP/USD 1.3576 USD/CAD 1.2752 AUD/USD 0.7703 USD/JPY 102.85 USD/CNH 6.4427 USD/ILS 3.2057 USD/MXN 20.0402 USD/CHF 0.8799 USD/INR 73.18
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USD
The dollar fell against all G-10 peers as investors watch Georgia residents cast ballots in a runoff election to decide which party will hold the Senate majority. A democratic control of the Senate would be an indication of looser fiscal and monetary to come and may have negative implications for US treasuries and the US dollar.
GBPPM Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown yesterday that is expected to last through mid-February. The pound gained only slightly versus the greenback. 4.6B pounds of new support for businesses closed to the lockdown was rolled out.
EURThe euro gained versus the greenback again and trades below the two-year high set Dec 30. Germany has announced a three week extension for the current coronavirus lockdown as the country and EU member states struggle to deploy the vaccine as quickly as expected.
CADAfter losing ground late in the session yesterday, the Canadian dollar is stronger versus the greenback as commodities advance. WTI oil ticked up 1.5% as an OPEC+ meeting was suspended after a disagreement about a planned February production cut. The meeting is expected to continue today.
ASIA/PACIFICUSD/JPY fell as low as March 2020 supports as the dollar broadly lost ground. Riskier currencies such as the Aussie and New Zealand dollars gained ground as commodities rose globally.
China’s central bank lifted the yuan fix by the largest amount to the highest level in 30 months. The offshore yuan strengthened versus the greenback and the fix provided a boost to riskier currencies.
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