Early trade in New York: Dollar flat after hitting one-month peak
The dollar was flat on Wednesday as investors took profits after it reached a one-month high early in the session versus a group of currencies as US data showed robust growth in retail sales and consumer prices in January. The greenback was on track for its 11th straight day of gains, then retreated as US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, in her second day of economic testimony before Congress, offered no additional insight on the timing of the central bank's next rate hike.
On Tuesday, Yellen hinted more rate increases were on the way as the jobs market has improved and inflation has shown signs of nearing the Fed's 2 percent goal. "With the timing of rate hikes, there is some hesitation in the market," said Sebastien Galy, currency strategist at Deutsche Bank in New York.
The dollar index, which measures the currency against its six major peers, was flat at 101.19. It had rallied to a session high of 101.76, its highest since January 12 as data showed a stronger-than-forecast 0.4 percent increase in retail sales in January and a 0.6 percent jump in consumer prices last month, their biggest gain in nearly four years. The euro rebounded from an one-month low against the greenback, last up 0.1 percent at $1.0587, while the dollar hovered near a two-week high versus the yen, last at 114.26 yen.
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