* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(New throughout)
By Kate Duguid
NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The dollar struggled on
Wednesday morning as dovish testimony from Fed Chair Jerome
Powell bolstered concerns about rising inflation, hitting
multi-year lows against the pound and commodity-linked
currencies including the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand
dollars.
The Federal Reserve's Powell reiterated on Wednesday that
U.S. interest rates will remain low and the Fed will keep buying
bonds to support the U.S. economy. The Fed's commitment to low
rates has some investors worried that inflation could spike on
passage of further fiscal stimulus. Powell's remarks to the House Committee on Financial
Services mirrored his testimony before the Senate on Tuesday.
The chances for higher growth - aided by easy financial
conditions and the promise of fiscal stimulus - has sent money
towards currencies expected to benefit from a pick-up in global
trade, like those linked to commodities, and to countries like
Britain that are recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.
Because commodities rise with inflation, commodity-linked
currencies including the Canadian CAD= , Australian AUD= and
New Zealand NZD= dollars have also benefited from the rise in
inflation fears.
"The market's focus is well ahead of where Powell is
talking," said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at
Deutsche Bank.
While Powell is focused on the current state of the U.S.
economy and employment, currency markets are focused more on
inflation and reflation, said Ruskin.
"It is critical to make judgements on whether reflation
turns into excess reflation which then turns into inflation."
The dollar's weakness in recent days has been more
remarkable as it comes against the backdrop of a broader rise in
U.S. yields. Benchmark 10-year borrowing costs US10YT=RR are
holding near their highest in nearly a year. US/
Against the Canadian dollar, the greenback on Wednesday hit
its lowest since 2018 and was last 0.25% lower on the day at
1.256 CAD per dollar. The Australian dollar rose to a three-year
high of $0.794 before paring some gains to trade 0.08% stronger
at $0.792. The Kiwi rose to its highest since 2018, last up
0.69% on the day to 0.739.
The British pound GBP=D3 climbed past $1.42 overnight for
the first time since April 2018.
The dollar index =USD against a basket of six major
currencies was at 90.378, up 0.29% on the day, but still trading
within a narrow range.
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World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
YTD FX performance https://tmsnrt.rs/3aPudxo
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