Ukraine Concerns Push Yen And US Dollar Higher, EUR Dips

Published: 12 Mar at 11 AM Tags: Euro, Dollar, Pound Sterling, America, UK, Eurozone, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, South Africa,

Pound Sterling
GBP/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.6617
A lack of UK news is likely to leave the Pound trading in a fairly narrow range today, although investors will be looking ahead to Friday’s UK trade balance data and questioning whether the report will add to the UK’s brightening economic picture.

US Dollar
USD/GBP – Trading in the Region of 0.6018
Ongoing Ukraine concerns and fears of a slowdown in China have boosted the US Dollar against several of its higher-risk rivals. MBA mortgage applications figures may inspire some ‘Greenback’ movement today.

Euro
EUR/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.3851
After softening yesterday following the publication of concerning growth data for Italy the Euro was little-changed against peers like the Pound and US Dollar this morning. Today’s Eurozone industrial production figures could prompt further Euro movement.

Australian Dollar
AUD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8939
Lacklustre domestic home loans figures and an unexpected drop in Australian consumer confidence saw the ‘Aussie’ decline for a fourth day. The South Pacific currency lost ground against almost all of its counterparts ahead of tomorrow’s Australian employment report.

New Zealand Dollar
NZD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8462
Overnight the ‘Kiwi’ was supported against the Pound by the expectation that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will introduce a rate increase when it gathers later today. New Zealand’s food price report will also be of interest.

Canadian Dollar
CAD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8999
Sliding commodity prices drove the Canadian Dollar lower yesterday. ‘Loonie’ movement is likely to be restrained ahead of tomorrow’s Canadian new housing price report.

Japanese Yen
USD/JPY – Trading in the Region of 102.7100
As China’s measure of economic surprises dropped to a nine-month low (increasing slowdown concerns) the safe-haven Yen advanced on several of its major rivals. The Yen was also supported by surprisingly upbeat Japanese data, including a stronger-than-forecast surge in the nation’s tertiary industry index.

South African Rand
USD/ZAR – Trading in the Region of 10.8730
Before the release of domestic current account data the Rand was trading close to a week low against the US Dollar. With investors turning from higher-risk assets due to Ukraine uncertainty, the emerging-market Rand also dipped against several of its other major rivals.
As of Wednesday, 12th March 2014, the Pound Sterling currency rates mentioned within this news item were as follows:

GBP EUR exchange rate was 1.1954, GBP USD exchange rate was 1.662, GBP AUD exchange rate was 1.8475, GBP NZD exchange rate was 1.9502, GBP CAD exchange rate was 1.8478, GBP CNY exchange rate was 10.213, GBP JPY exchange rate was 170.8466, and GBP ZAR exchange rate was 17.9603.

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