The US dollar was mixed on Thursday morning, weaker against the euro, the Swiss franc and the Japanese yen, but stronger versus the Antipodean currencies after a slew of central bank decisions came in more hawkish than expected. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut interest rates by 25 basis points to provide insurance against risks including weak global growth and resurgent trade tensions, while signalling a higher bar to further reductions in borrowing costs.
Subsequently, the Swiss National Bank, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan all kept their policies on hold. Norges Bank increased its key policy rate, moving its rates in the opposite direction of the United States and European Union. The dollar dipped, 0.22% lower against a basket of currencies, despite Fed Chair Jerome Powell's statement that "what we think we are facing here is a situation which can be addressed, which should be addressed, with moderate adjustments to the federal funds rate." Powell noted that the US labour market was strong and inflation was likely to return to the Fed's 2% annual goal.
The Swiss franc rallied against its major peers on Thursday and is on track to post its biggest daily jump versus the greenback in a month. Against the dollar, the euro was 0.23% stronger, last at $1.1055. Elsewhere, the Japanese yen maintained earlier gains after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold, last up 0.37% against the dollar. The BOJ also signalled the chance of expanding stimulus as early as its next policy meeting in October by issuing a stronger warning over the risks threatening the economy. Against the Australian and New Zealand dollars the US dollar was stronger, up 0.47% and 0.21% respectively.