Dollar meanders as traders await key US economic data
CBACBA(US:CMWAY) The Economic Times·2026-01-07 02:00

Geopolitical Tensions and Market Reactions - Markets have largely ignored deepening geopolitical tensions, with stocks rallying and currencies and bonds showing little movement following U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro [1][8] - China has banned exports of dual-use items to Japan, a response to remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, but this has not significantly impacted foreign exchange markets [1][2][8] Currency Market Overview - The Australian dollar fell 0.3% to a session low of $0.6717 but later recovered, while the British pound remained flat at $1.3502 and the Japanese yen strengthened slightly to 156.63 [8] - The euro increased by 0.03% to $1.1692 after a previous session decline of 0.3%, attributed to inflation slowing more than expected in major eurozone economies [5][8] U.S. Economic Data and Federal Reserve Outlook - Currency traders are in a wait-and-see mode ahead of U.S. labor market data, including private payrolls and job openings, with a focus on the upcoming nonfarm payrolls report [5][8] - There is a belief among investors that the Federal Reserve will cut rates at least two more times this year, which has contributed to a weaker dollar [7][9] - The ADP's monthly jobs report is anticipated to be particularly impactful, with concerns about rising unemployment and the potential underperformance of AI investments [6][9]