The dollar resumed its relentless rise on Thursday, charting new 24-year highs against the yen and pinning the euro close to parity as investors bet on the Federal Reserve ratcheting up interest rates to combat soaring inflation.
Global economic turmoil has put a rocket under the haven dollar, pushing the dollar index that tracks the greenback against six counterparts up more than 13% this year. It was last up a fifth of a percent on the day at 108.500.
The dollar strengthened more than 1% against the yen, pushing it above 139 yen per dollar for the first time since 1998. It was last up 1.3% at 139.18 yen per dollar.
The euro was hovering just above parity with the dollar – a day after breaking below the critical level for the first time in almost two decades. The single currency fell 0.5% daily and was down 0.3% at $1.00310.
Another hot set of U.S. inflation data on Wednesday and an aggressive 100 basis point rate hike by the Bank of Canada on the same day has stoked bets on swifter policy tightening by the Fed, currency analysts said.
“The price action reflects building fears that the Fed will strangle the life out of the U.S. recovery by responding more aggressively to dampen upside inflation risks,” MUFG said in a note.
Traders have ramped up bets that the U.S. central bank could raise rates by 100 basis points when it meets on July 26-27. A hike of at least 75 basis points is seen as almost inevitable.
Sterling slipped 0.3% to $1.18580 as concerns about prospects for the British economy dominated despite data on Wednesday showing output unexpectedly grew in May.
