TOKYO: The dollar held steady near a two-week high against a basket of currencies on Monday, as investor risk appetite held up despite the latest data showing China’s 2018 economic growth slowing to a near three-decade low.
The dollar index, which measures its strength against a group of six major currencies, was steady at 96.308 after climbing to 96.394 percent on Friday, its strongest since Jan. 4.
Hopes for a thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions, a more dovish-sounding Federal Reserve and optimism that Britain could avoid a “No-Deal” Brexit are some of the factors that have fanned the return in investor risk appetite, which went into a deep freeze in December as global equity markets tumbled.
Along with a decline in Treasury yields earlier in the month which had accompanied the retreat in equities, the dollar index had slipped to a three-month low near 95.00 on Jan. 10.
The U.S.-China trade friction has already put pressure on China’s economy, with the latest data showing the world’s second-biggest economy slowing further in the last quarter of 2018. Markets appeared to take the outcome, largely in line with expectations, in their stride.
The dollar was down 0.1 percent at 109.64 yen, taking a pause after climbing to a three-week high of 109.895 on Friday. The greenback had gained more than 1 percent against its Japanese peer last week.
The euro nudged up 0.15 percent to $1.1376 but remained in close reach of a two-week low of $1.1353 brushed on Friday.
The pound was 0.1 percent lower at $1.2860.
Sterling had climbed to a two-month peak of $1.3001 on Thursday on growing confidence that Britain can avoid leaving the European Union without a deal but faced profit-taking on Friday.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Monday put forward a motion on her proposed next steps. Over the following week, lawmakers will be able to propose alternatives. They will debate these plans on Jan. 29 and voting on them should indicate whether any could get majority support.
The Australian dollar was steady at $0.7166 after ending Friday on a loss of 0.3 percent.
The Aussie was largely unfazed by China’s growth numbers though analysts agree that any sharp drop in demand from its biggest trading partner would put a dent in local assets.
Australia’s close trading links with the world’s second-biggest economy means its currency is often regarded as a proxy to China-related trades.
The 10-year Treasury note yield rose to a three-week high of 2.799 percent on Friday, continuing its rise from a one-year low of 2.543 percent plumbed early in January.
The U.S. financial markets will be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
