Dollar falls to 27-month low as US stocks hit record highs

NEW YORK: The US dollar index fell to its lowest in more than two years on Tuesday as the ongoing effects of the Federal Reserve's stimulus programs weakened the greenback broadly for the fifth consecutive day and lifted US stock indexes to record highs.

Although the dollar often functions as a safe-haven investment in moments of crisis, it has fallen since the Federal Reserve's intervention into financial markets to maintain liquidity in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The Fed's programs have pushed risk assets to all-time highs and reduced demand for safe-havens, even as economic data has painted a bleak picture of the US recovery.

The dollar index was last down 0.55% at 92.308, having earlier hit a bottom of 92.124, its lowest since May 2018. Against the euro, the dollar also hit its lowest since May 2018 at $1.197.

The dollar was also weaker against the Japanese yen, another traditional safe-haven, having hit a two-week low of 105.27 yen per dollar.

"It's the Fed, it's all the liquidity being pumped into the market," said Greg Anderson, global head of foreign exchange strategy at BMO Capital Markets, about the fall in the dollar.

A fresh rally in tech stocks provided a positive backdrop for markets and drove the S&P 500 index to a record high, topping the last record hit on Feb. 19 and further underlining the disconnect between the stock market and US economic data.

Anderson noted that the Tuesday's dollar weakness was not the result of any specific data release, but about a move lower that has been gaining momentum.

"Once US dollar momentum becomes entrenched, it's like trying to turn around an aircraft carrier, it is tough to do. And I think the momentum is entrenched," he said.

Net bearish bets on the greenback rose to their largest since May 2011 last week, and spot trade in recent days suggests the position has only grown further since. Elsewhere in North America, the Canadian dollar strengthened to $1.315, its best versus the greenback since late January. The move came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed his close ally and deputy Chrystia Freeland as finance minister on Tuesday as he revamps pandemic recovery plans.

"(Bill) Morneau has been a very solid finance minister. In a lot of situations, to lose that would be a bit destabilizing. But in this particular instance, Chrystia Freeland has also done a remarkable job with her file," said Anderson.