- Dollar index sets for biggest weekly gain in four months
- Weak German, French PMIs stoke selling in euros
- Yuan falters on dour Chinese retail sales, industrial data
- Worries about Brexit deal knock down sterling
- Graphic: World FX rates in 2018 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Updates market action, adds quote)
The dollar rose to a 19-month high against a basket of currencies on Friday, as worrisome political and economic news outside the United States drove a strong bid for the safety of the greenback.
The Chinese yuan CNH= fell after data showed China's retail sales in November grew at the slowest pace since 2003 and industrial output marked its weakest growth in nearly three years. The offshore yuan CNH=EBS shed !RIC {CNH=EBS} is invalid percent at !RIC {CNH=EBS} is invalid per dollar.
The euro fell as the euro zone's two largest members showed signs of a slowdown.
Sterling weakened as traders worried that British Prime Minister Theresa May was struggling to secure assurances from the European Union over her Brexit withdrawal deal after she survived a confidence vote earlier this week.
"The dollar is not so much rallying as much as everyone else is falling," said Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management in New York.
An index that tracks the greenback versus six major peers .DXY hit its highest level since May 2017, at 97.711. At 11:02 a.m. (1602 GMT), the index was up 0.38 percent at 97.429, putting it on track for its best week since early August.
The greenback's appeal grew following upbeat data on U.S. retail sales and industrial output in November.
The dollar's gains were limited by bets the Federal Reserve might soon pause in raising interest rates after a widely expected hike next week of a quarter point, to 2.25-2.50 percent.
"The market is skeptical about the U.S. economy and whether the Fed would hike further after December," Schlossberg said.
The greenback was also held back by the probability of a partial U.S. government shutdown as President Donald Trump and federal lawmakers disagree over funding for a border wall, analysts said.
The euro was down !RIC {EUR=EBS} is invalid percent at $!RIC {EUR=EBS} is invalid after German data showed private-sector expansion slowed to a four-year low in December and French business activity unexpectedly contracted.
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told European Union leaders growth was weaker than previously forecast and urged them to go forward with reforms of the euro zone, one official told Reuters.
"I interpret this as caution that we already know is perpetual in the ECB's thinking," said Juan Perez, senior currency trader at Tempus, Inc in Washington.
Worries about the European economy were also stoked by uncertainty whether May could convince the British parliament to approve her Brexit deal.
The pound was 0.62 percent lower, at $1.2581, holding above the 20-month low of $1.2477 reached on Wednesday.
======================================================== Currency bid prices at 3:20PM (2020 GMT)Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1305 $1.1361 -0.49% -5.76% +1.1371 +1.1270 Dollar/Yen JPY= 113.3300 113.6200 -0.26% +0.59% +113.6800 +113.2200 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 128.13 129.03 -0.70% -5.22% +129.1200 +127.9900 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9976 0.9940 +0.36% +2.39% +0.9983 +0.9932 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2581 1.2655 -0.58% -6.89% +1.2674 +1.2531 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3369 1.3350 +0.14% +6.30% +1.3401 +1.3347 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7179 0.7226 -0.65% -7.97% +0.7228 +0.7152 arEuro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1281 1.1287 -0.05% -3.49% +1.1295 +1.1243 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8986 0.8974 +0.13% +1.16% +0.9006 +0.8961 NZ NZD= 0.6798 0.6856 -0.85% -4.06% +0.6862 +0.6779 Dollar/DollarDollar/Norway NOK= 8.6176 8.5552 +0.73% +5.00% +8.6337 +8.5507 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.7451 9.7232 +0.23% -1.05% +9.7503 +9.7158 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.0642 9.0551 -0.38% +10.52% +9.1164 +9.0532 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.2478 10.2871 -0.38% +4.15% +10.3114 +10.2415 <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Dollar index vs federal funds rate http//tmsnrt.rs/2QQzbkmGRAPHIC-Euro, sterling since Brexit referendum http//tmsnrt.rs/2ytup0V GRAPHIC-Euro, sterling since Brexit referendum interactive http//tmsnrt.rs/2yv9XwN GRAPHIC-FX Valuations http//tmsnrt.rs/2SIjXel
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