The dollar continues to lose ground against the yen and the Swiss franc. Apparently, this is not the limit. Investors have reduced risk appetite amid a partial closure of the US government and signs of confrontation between the White House and the Federal Reserve.
The dollar fell 0.39 percent to 110.00 yen, the lowest level since late August, the eighth consecutive session decline against the Japanese currency. The yen also hit a 16-month high against the pound, trading at 139.90 yen and a four-month high against the euro at 125.60 yen. The Swiss franc rose 0.2 percent against the dollar, to a 12-week high of $0.98355. The difficult situation in the US even raised gold from the bottom. On Monday, gold rose to a six-month high of $1269.30 per ounce.
In general, trade veterans have already called this year's Christmas as one of the darkest. US stocks are falling, oil sank by more than 6 percent in a day, events in Washington reinforce investors' concerns about the slowdown of the world economy next year. The Wall Street Volatility Index, which is considered an accurate indicator of investors' fear, jumped to 36.10 points, the highest level since February 6. US President Donald Trump, who called the Fed the "only problem" for the US economy, adds fuel to the fire, just a few days after reports that Trump discussed the dismissal of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. It is worth noting that if Powell is dismissed, it will undermine the independence of the Fed as a central bank and, ultimately, the credibility of the dollar. Since many markets are closed during Christmas, the movements of other currencies have been limited.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company - www.instaforex.com