Easing Wagers Pull Back Slightly as Wariness Returns
Not so fast. Currency markets are turning more cautious this morning as traders trim US rate-cut bets slightly from levels hit after Wednesday’s Goldilocks-esque inflation and retail sales reports. The greenback is inching up against its major counterparts, long-end Treasury yields are pushing higher, and North American equity futures are setting up for a slightly diminished open. But the dollar’s outperformance has faded in recent weeks. After a series of data releases showing labour markets slowing, consumer spending trending down, and inflation pressures subsiding, economists are revising growth projections lower. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s repeated reference to “restrictive” rate...