- German industrial output slumps
- Fears of euro zone recession mount
- Dollar outlook remains dim with lower rate outlook
- Focus on U.S.-China talks
(Adds comment, updates prices)
The dollar rose on Tuesday, rebounding from a nearly three-month low in the previous session amid expectations of a pause in the U.S. interest rate hiking cycle, as investors focused on the risk of a euro zone recession after data showed more signs of slowing in the region.
An unexpected fall in German industrial output for the third straight month helped to weaken the euro. The drop was modest, but it underscored concerns about a slowdown and the European Central Bank's caution as it tries to wean the region off stimulus.
German exporters are struggling with weaker global demand and trade disputes driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's policies.
In afternoon trading, the euro EUR= fell 0.3 percent to $1.1441. It has traded in a tight range of $1.12 to $1.15 since mid-November.
Weakness in the euro supported the dollar, which rose 0.3 percent against a basket of currencies to 95.908 .DXY .
The dollar index, however, has lost around 2 percent since mid-December and remains near a three-month low of 95.638 reached on Monday.
Despite Tuesday's rebound, the dollar's outlook remained dreary. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Friday the Fed is not on a preset path of rate hikes and will be sensitive to the downside risks markets are pricing in.
The prospect of no further rate increases is likely to keep the dollar under pressure, analysts said.
Mark McCormick, TD Securities North American head of FX strategy in Toronto, said his company's growth signals are still modestly long U.S. dollars, although the extreme overvaluation of as much as 20 percent on some models could offset that.
Overall, McCormick is leaning more U.S. dollar-bearish. "The prospects of growing fiscal support outside the U.S. should amplify the growth convergence story this year just as the Fed nears the endgame and temporary U.S. support ebbs," said McCormick.
That said, dollar sentiment has been temporarily bolstered by optimism about a possible U.S.-China trade agreement.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Monday there was a good chance Beijing and Washington would reach a trade deal that "we could live with."
Against the yen, the dollar was little changed at 108.63 yen JPY= . The British pound GBP=D3 traded down 0.5 percent at $1.2716 and traders expect the currency to remain volatile over the next few weeks.
British Prime Minister Theresa May must win a vote in Parliament next week to approve her government's Brexit agreement or risk seeing Britain's exit from the European Union descend into chaos.
Currency bid prices at 3:16PM (2016 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Change Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1436 $1.1474 -0.33 -0.29 +1.1485 +1.1422 Dollar/Yen JPY= 108.6600 108.7000 -0.04 -1.44 +109.0800 +108.4500 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 124.30 124.73 -0.34 -1.52 +124.8600 +124.1300 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9815 0.9795 +0.20 +0.01 +0.9834 +0.9790 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2714 1.2778 -0.50 -0.34 +1.2796 +1.2708 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3281 1.3296 -0.11 -2.61 +1.3321 +1.3267 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7137 0.7147 -0.14 +1.25 +0.7149 +0.7117 arEuro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1229 1.1239 -0.09 -0.22 +1.1251 +1.1220 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8994 0.8978 +0.18 +0.11 +0.9007 +0.8949 NZ NZD= 0.6721 0.6751 -0.44 +0.06 +0.6758 +0.6709 Dollar/DollarDollar/Norway NOK= 8.5486 8.5295 +0.22 -1.04 +8.5724 +8.5246 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.7793 9.7897 -0.11 -1.28 +9.8039 +9.7620 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.9252 8.8945 +0.03 -0.43 +8.9391 +8.8778 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.2100 10.2070 +0.03 -0.54 +10.2280 +10.1730
