Dollar slumps as bears shrug off US stimulus delay

TOKYO: The dollar slumped to multi-year lows against many currencies on Wednesday as currency traders looked past a new delay in US stimulus cheques and maintained bets additional financial aid was still likely.

The greenback hit its weakest level in more than two years against the euro, the Australian and the New Zealand dollars. The greenback also crashed to the lowest in more than five years against the Swiss franc and fell broadly against Asian currencies.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked immediate consideration of a measure to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000, adding another twist to fractious negotiations over fiscal stimulus.

The dollar has fallen steadily since US President Donald Trump signed a coronavirus aid and spending bill on Sunday, because more stimulus for the world's largest economy reduces demand for the perceived safety of holding the greenback.

While the size of relief payments is still uncertain, many analysts say the dollar is likely to resume falling next year because President-elect Joe Biden is expected to push for even more economic support measures.

"Our weak dollar call remains intact as we move into 2021," analysts at BBH wrote in a research memo.

"What happens to the greenback largely depends on how well the United States controls the virus in 2021 as well as the outlook for further fiscal stimulus."

The dollar fell to $1.2295 per euro on Wednesday in Asia, its weakest since April 2018.

The British pound rose to $1.3543.

Against the Swiss franc, the dollar touched 0.8819, the weakest since January 2015.

The dollar fell to 103.27 yen.

Low liquidity may have exaggerated some market moves with many investors away for year-end holidays.

A light data calendar in Asia is also likely to leave traders with little incentive to take out big positions.

The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 89.759, not far from the lowest in more than two years.

Last-minute infighting has cast doubt on some of the details of the US aid package, but many analysts say the US government will keep rolling out fiscal stimulus in some form because a second wave of coronavirus infections is becoming a big threat to the economy.

In addition, many investors are already looking ahead to a new government under Biden when he is sworn in on Jan. 20.

Another negative factor for the greenback is expectations that the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low for an extremely long time, many analysts say.

Elsewhere, both the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar reached their strongest levels in 2 1/2-years. The currencies are considered barometers of risk appetite because of their ties to global commodities.

The onshore yuan edged up to 6.5227 per dollar. The Korean won and the Malaysian ringgit also rose amid broad-based dollar selling.