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The dollar weakened against the yen on Friday as dismal United States (US) retail sales data reinforced expectations Federal Reserve rates will not rise this year, while investor focus shifted to trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
Retail sales posted their largest decline since September 2009, US data showed on Thursday, a sign of weakness in the consumer sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy.
“Poor retail sales data has reinforced the view that the Fed will most likely keep rates steady this year. Dollar/yen is indicative of the risk averse sentiment right now..I am expecting the yen crosses to appreciate along with the Swiss franc,” said Nick Twidale, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Rakuten Securities Australia.
The dollar lost about 0.5 per cent against the safe-haven yen in the overnight session and was relatively unchanged in early Asian trade. The yen rose marginally versus the euro to 124.67, having gained around 0.2 per cent on Thursday.
The Aussie and New Zealand dollars pared earlier gains, losing 0.2 per cent to $0.7091 and $0.6819, respectively.
The dollar index, a gauge of its strength versus six major peers was relatively unchanged at 97.01, after weakening by 0.12 per cent in the previous session.
The main focus for the Asian market on Friday remains the outcome of the high level trade talks between US and China this week.
Markets earlier this week cheered US President Donald Trump's upbeat assessment of the talks.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the administration's top two negotiators will meet on Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping but that there had been no decision to extend a March 1 deadline for a deal.
US tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China are scheduled to rise to 25 per cent from 10 per cent if the two sides don't reach a deal by then, increasing pain and costs in sectors from consumer electronics to agriculture.
Rakuten's Twidale thinks that any negative news flow out of the US-Sino talks could push the dollar back up again, given its safe-haven status.
Elsewhere, sterling was down 0.1 per cent at $1.2800. Traders expect the pound to remain volatile in the coming weeks.
British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a defeat on her Brexit strategy on Thursday that undermined her pledge to European Union leaders to get her divorce deal approved if they grant her concessions.
The United Kingdom is on course to leave the European Union (EU) on March 29 without a deal unless Prime Minister Theresa May can persuade the bloc to amend the divorce deal she agreed last year.
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