The U.S.
dollar traded lower against the most major currencies despite the
better-than-expected U.S. producer price index (PPI). The U.S. producer price
index increased 0.6% in April, from a 0.5% rise in March. This is the fastest
growth since September 2012. Analysts had expected a 0.2% gain. The
year-on-year PPI climbed 2.1% in April, from a 1.4% rise in March.
The U.S.
PPI excluding food and energy increased 0.5% in April (March: +0.6%). Analysts
had forecasted a 0.2% rise. The year-on-year excluding food and energy gained
1.9% in April, from a 1.4% rise in March.
The euro
traded mixed against the U.S. dollar. The industrial production in the Eurozone
decreased 0.3% in March, from a 0.3% increase in February. Analysts had
expected this figure. The year-on year rate of the industrial production in the
Eurozone decreased 0.1% in March, from a 1.7% increase in February.
The euro
also remained under pressure due to possible additional stimulus measures from
the ECB next month.
The British
pound hits 3-week lows against the U.S. dollar after the release of the BoE’s
quarterly inflation report and the U.K. labour market figures. The BoE left its
GDP outlook at 3.4% for this year that indicates the BoE could delay the
interest rate hike. But the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said that the
British economy is moving closer to the point of needing tighter policy.
The U.K.
unemployment rate declined to 6.8% in March, from 6.9% in February. The
claimant count dropped by 25,100 in April, compared to a decline of 30,400
people in March. Analysts had expected a decrease of 31,200 people.
The
Canadian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar in the absence of any
significant economic data.
The New
Zealand dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar despite the
lower-than-expected retail sales data from New Zealand. Retail sales in New Zealand
increased 0.7% in the first quarter, from a 1.2% rise in the previous quarter.
Analysts had expected a 0.9% increase. Retail sales excluding automobiles and
gas stations climbed 0.8% in the first quarter, from a 1% increase in the
previous quarter. The fourth quarter figure was revised up from 0.7%. Analysts
had forecasted a 0.9% gain.
The Reserve
Bank of New Zealand released its Financial Stability Report. House sales
declined 11% between October and March since the central bank imposed the
restrictions on high loan-to-value ratio lending.
The
Australian dollar increased to 1-month highs against the U.S. dollar, supported
by the Australian federal budget 2014, but later lost a part of its gains.
Australia's Treasury released the federal budget for 2014 – 2015 on Tuesday.
Australia's treasurer Joe Hockey said that the government aims to halve its
budget deficit over the next year. The Australian government wants to cut tax
increases and spending cuts in the budget to achieve its goal. Australia's
Treasury forecast a deficit of A$29.8 billion during the twelve months ended
June 2015. The real GDP should grow 2.5% in 2014 – 2015.
The Japanese yen increased against the U.S.
dollar, supported by the better-than-expected economic data out of Japan and
the increasing demand for the safe-haven currency. Corporate Goods Price Index
(CGPI) increased 4.1% in April, from a 1.7% rise in March. Machine tool orders
(preliminary) rose 48.8% in April, from a 41.8% gain in March.