Dollar extends rebound as US yields climb

NEW YORK: The dollar edged higher across the board on Monday, extending a rebound from the near 3-year low hit last week, taking strength from the recent spike in Treasury yields and the prospect of a growth boost from higher US fiscal stimulus.

US President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20 with Democrats able to control both houses of Congress, has promised "trillions" in extra pandemic-relief spending.

Ordinarily, the extra spending plans would force investors to worry about rising inflation and its detrimental effect on the US dollar in a weak economy, but the currency has been supported in recent weeks thanks to rising US yields.

US government bond yields have logged big moves in recent sessions, with the Treasury yield curve experiencing a significant increase in yields in longer-dated bonds.

Benchmark Treasury yields rose to 10-month highs on Monday as investors priced for higher government spending under the incoming Joe Biden administration and before the Treasury will sell new long-dated supply.

At 99 basis points, the spread between the 2-year and 10-year Treasury yield is at its steepest since July 2017. .

The US dollar index was 0.4% higher at 90.636, it's fourth straight session of gains. The index fell as low as 89.21 last weak, its weakest since March 2018.

"Recent drivers of USD softness - rising commodities, stronger stocks and lower yields are moderating at least but whether we see a wholesale reversal in these trends remains to be seen," Shaun Osborne, chief currency strategist at Scotiabank, said in a note.

"While the USD may catch a bid on position-adjustment or profit-taking after its recent weakness, a sustained recovery will have to be accompanied by either a clear improvement in recent yield trends or a positive US growth shock," Osborne said.

Speculators in the FX market remain extremely bearish on the dollar, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday, showed.

The stronger dollar took a bite out of the pound, with the British currency down 0.7%, as Britain's chief medical adviser warned that the next few weeks of the pandemic will be the worst yet.

Meanwhile, bitcoin plunged nearly 20% to a one-week low on Monday before paring losses, putting the cryptocurrency on track for its biggest one-day drop since March as its recent red-hot rally faltered.