Dollar strengthens as bulls wager fed rate increase is in sight

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Forecasters predict the dollar has a good chance of strengthening through year-end after last week posting its longest winning run versus the yen since July 2014.

(Bloomberg) — The dollar climbed as traders showed a growing conviction that the Federal Reserve is poised to raise interest rates by year-end.

The greenback rose against most Group of 10 countries as futures prices signaled a slightly increased probability of a rate hike by December, at 68 percent. Traders anticipate minutes of the Fed’s September meeting due Oct. 12 will provide clues on how close policy makers are to deeming U.S. economic growth and inflation strong enough to merit tighter monetary policy.

Forecasters predict the dollar has a good chance of strengthening through year-end after last week posting its longest winning run versus the yen since July 2014. Hedge funds’ net positions that profit from a stronger greenback reached the highest level since February in the week through Oct. 4. Dollar traders will parse Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s speech in Boston on Oct. 14 for the central bank’s views on the economy.

“The data keeps the Fed on track for a December move, but that’s not a slam-dunk decision at this point,” said Ned Rumpeltin, European head of currency strategy at Toronto-Dominion Bank in London.

The dollar climbed 0.8 percent to 103.76 yen as of 1:21 p.m. in New York. The greenback fell 0.9 percent on Oct. 7, snapping eight days of gains. The U.S. currency added 0.6 percent to $1.1138 per euro.

Monday’s recovery came amid limited trading flows, with markets closed for holidays in Japan and Treasuries dealing halted for the U.S.’s Columbus Day. The Oct. 7 drop in the dollar-yen rate was spurred by demand for the Japanese currency as a haven after a flash crash in the pound.

“In the short term, the dollar can do OK — it should be well supported through the week,” said Chris Turner, London-based head of currency strategy at ING Groep NV. “We’re forecasting modest tightening.”

ING expects the Fed will raise interest rates in March 2017.

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Dollar strengthens as bulls wager fed rate increase is in sight