NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar dipped against a basket of currencies on Friday, fading from a two-week peak which was tied to news of a record Chinese trade surplus that may fuel U.S.-China trade tensions and that briefly spurred safe-haven bids for the greenback.
The dollar’s pullback likely stemmed from modest gains on Wall Street and a drop-off in trading volume before the weekend, analysts said.
“The U.S. dollar has been moving inversely with stocks. They could have restrained the dollar somewhat,” said Eric Viloria, currency strategist at Wells Fargo Securities in New York.
An index that tracks the dollar against the yen, euro and four other currencies .DXY was down 0.07 percent to 94.740 after touching 95.241, which was the highest since June 29.
The S&P 500 index .SPX hit a five-month high on strength from the industrial and energy sectors.
The yen recovered from a six-month trough against the greenback after hitting a six-month low at 112.79 yen JPY= before recovering to 112.30 yen, up 0.2 percent on the day.
The euro EUR= fell to a nine-day low at $1.1610 before ending flat at $1.1680.
The yuan fell half a percent in offshore markets to as low as 6.7250, near an 11-month trough of 6.7326 CNH= on July 3.
Despite the greenback’s stalling on Friday, prospects for a strong dollar remain intact.
“It’s hard to see what’s going to dethrone the dollar,” said Paresh Upadhyaya, director of currency strategy at Amundi Pioneer Investments in Boston.
“Trade war concerns amplify the downside risk on global growth. That tends to be positive for the dollar and puts a drag on other currencies,” Upadhyaya said.
Upbeat comments on the U.S. economy from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell also stoked earlier demand for the dollar, analysts said.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday that the United States and China might reopen trade talks, briefly easing concerns about the trade dispute.
But data showing China’s trade surplus with the United States swelled to a record in June could further inflame tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump this week pledged to impose tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese imports. Beijing has vowed to retaliate.
Escalating trade tensions have not dented the U.S. economy, which on is its second longest expansion on record.
On Thursday, Fed chief Powell said in a Marketplace radio interview he believes the U.S. economy remains in a “good place,” with recent government tax and spending programs likely to boost growth for perhaps three years.
The Fed released its semiannual report on monetary policy before Powell’s testimony to Congress next Tuesday and Wednesday. The report showed solid U.S. economic growth and the Fed expecting to keep raising rates gradually.
To view a graphic on World FX rates in 2018, click: tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
To view a graphic on U.S. trade with China, click: tmsnrt.rs/2KAT34a
Additional reporting by Tommy Wilkes in LONDON; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and James Dalgleish
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.