Dollar hits highest since mid-March on cooling European inflation

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar rose strongly on Wednesday to a more than two-month high after data showed European inflation is cooling quicker than expected and China's recovery is sputtering.

The euro fell to $1.066 earlier in the session, the lowest since March 20. It was last down 0.64% to $1.06665.

That helped the dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, climb to 104.63, its highest since March 16. It was last up 0.509% at 104.570.

Data on Wednesday showed inflation in France and some of Germany's biggest states is cooling. Analysts said the figures reduced the pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to keep raising interest rates, diminishing the euro's attractiveness relative to the dollar.

"It makes an ECB rate increase less likely with the weaker-than-expected inflation data in France, so definitely helps weaken the euro," said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at TIAA Bank.

Inflation in France cooled in May to its lowest level in a year as energy and food price increases moderated. Euro zone-wide inflation data is due out tomorrow.

"European inflation is rolling back now and you're taking back some of the previously anticipated hikes from the ECB," said Carl Hammer, chief strategist at European bank SEB.

Hammer also said the probable resolution of the U.S. debt ceiling standoff was supporting U.S. stocks and likely helping the dollar.

Weak economic data out of China also boosted the U.S. currency, analysts said. A survey released on Wednesday showed that China's factory activity shrank faster than expected in May, in the latest sign that the country's recovery from COVID-19 lockdowns is faltering.

China's yuan fell to its lowest since November, and was last down versus the greenback at 7.1304 per dollar.

"We're seeing dollar strength after Chinese data came in weaker than expected. That was the main mover overnight," said Gaffney. "It gives investors a little something to worry about, if you will, about the global recovery and possibility that we'll see the global economy slip into a recession."

In a busy day in currency markets, the Japanese yen was last down 0.15% versus the greenback at 140.00 per dollar.

The dollar rose to a six-month peak against the yen of 140.93 on Tuesday but then fell sharply after Japan's top currency diplomat said officials "will closely watch currency market moves and respond appropriately as needed".

Sterling was last trading at $1.2368, down 0.36% on the day.

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin last fell 2.89% to $26,905.00. Ethereum last fell 2.55% to $1,855.70.

========================================================

Currency bid prices at 10:30AM (1430 GMT)

Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid

Previous Change

Session

Dollar index 104.5600 104.0500 +0.50% 1.034% +104.6300 +104.0000

Euro/Dollar $1.0666 $1.0736 -0.65% -0.46% +$1.0736 +$1.0658

Dollar/Yen 140.0100 139.7850 +0.17% +6.80% +140.3900 +139.3150

Euro/Yen 149.33 150.05 -0.48% +6.44% +150.1000 +148.8700

Dollar/Swiss 0.9123 0.9059 +0.72% -1.32% +0.9136 +0.9056

Sterling/Dollar $1.2372 $1.2413 -0.36% +2.27% +$1.2426 +$1.2350

Dollar/Canadian 1.3633 1.3601 +0.23% +0.62% +1.3651 +1.3599

Aussie/Dollar $0.6468 $0.6517 -0.74% -5.11% +$0.6536 +$0.6465

Euro/Swiss 0.9729 0.9723 +0.06% -1.68% +0.9745 +0.9710

Euro/Sterling 0.8619 0.8649 -0.35% -2.54% +0.8651 +0.8621

NZ $0.5994 $0.6043 -0.83% -5.61% +$0.6049 +$0.5987

Dollar/Dollar

Dollar/Norway 11.1600 11.1900 -0.40% +13.56% +11.2960 +11.1370

Euro/Norway 11.9061 11.9989 -0.77% +13.46% +12.0598 +11.8920

Dollar/Sweden 10.9177 10.8749 -0.16% +4.90% +10.9570 +10.8454

Euro/Sweden 11.6453 11.6634 -0.16% +4.45% +11.6891 +11.6048The Sunset to Liberty March, officials said, will be held each evening at Fort Liberty, mirroring a daily march in Nijmegen, Holland, that honors paratroopers who liberated the area during World War II.

Veterans, Gold Star families and others have signed up to take part in marches through the next 90 days, while others can volunteer to march in the future, said Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.

“We want to make sure that the culture of this installation moves forward with the base redesignation,” Donahue said during a news conference Tuesday at Liberty Plaza on Fort Bragg. “So it’s very important that we take everything that this base is, always will be, and carrying that forward.”