The dollar was largely unchanged on Monday following a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report. Investors are now speculating that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates twice this year, which has kept the dollar in a holding pattern. The yen, on the other hand, weakened slightly as the week began. This movement comes after a recent surge in the yen’s value, driven mainly by suspected Japanese government interventions to prevent the currency from hitting a 34-year low. The offshore yuan also experienced gains as the dollar retreated in response to the jobs data.
Last week, Japan reportedly intervened in the foreign exchange market to push the yen higher. This move resulted in the yen’s strongest weekly gain in over 17 months. However, analysts believe that the interventions may only provide temporary relief as the broader market sentiment is still bearish towards the yen. Despite the $9 trillion yen spent by the Bank of Japan to bolster the currency, traders remain skeptical of the yen’s long-term prospects.
The Federal Reserve’s recent statements have further fueled speculations of impending rate cuts. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission revealed that non-commercial traders reduced their yen short positions but still maintain a significant bearish outlook on the currency. The Fed’s decision to hold interest rates steady while hinting at the possibility of future cuts has prompted market participants to price in the likelihood of 45 basis points of cuts by the end of the year.
With the U.S. job market showing signs of cooling and wage growth dipping below 4.0% for the first time in three years, investors are optimistic about the Fed engineering a “soft landing” for the economy. Key economic indicators suggest that inflation may cool slightly, potentially meeting the conditions for a rate cut in the summer. Analysts at Citi have projected a scenario where softer job numbers could pave the way for further rate cuts in the future.
The dollar index, which measures the U.S. dollar against six major currencies, recently hit a three-week low following the release of the U.S. jobs report. The euro and sterling both saw modest gains as well, reflecting market sentiments and expectations surrounding future monetary policy decisions. Market participants will likely continue to monitor central bank actions and economic indicators for further insights into currency market movements.