US Dollar kicks back on Friday with President Trump considering lifting Russian sanctions

NEW YORK (February 21) The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the performance of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, is trading not far from 107.00 at the time of writing on Friday, after its earlier retreat on Thursday near 106.00. The Greenback claws back ahead of the United States (US) preliminary Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data release for February. European data released earlier in the day already revealed a further slowdown in the economic activity in Europe. 

The US economic calendar finally offers some data releases that might move the Greenback. The preliminary S&P Global Services PMI for February will be the main driver this Friday. Expectations are for a small uptick to 53 against 52.9 in the January reading. The University of Michigan will release its Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation expectations as well for January’s final reading. 

Daily digest market movers: US PMI data market moving

• In the early European trading session, the preliminary Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data for February was already released in several European countries. What stood out:
  • French HCOB Services PMI  fell further into contraction to 44.5, missing the 48.9 estimate and contracting further from the previous 48.2. 
  • European HCOB Services PMI fell to 50.7, missing the 51.5 estimate and below the previous 51.3 reading.
  • German HCOB PMIs beat estimates despite the Services component that came in at 52.2, missing the 52.5 estimate and below the January 52.5 reading. 
• At 14:45 GMT US preliminary S&P Global PMI data for February will be released:
  • The manufacturing sector is expected to tick up to 51.5, coming from 51.2.
  • The services sector should tick up marginally to 53.0, coming from 52.9.
• The University of Michigan will release its final January reading at 15:00 GMT:
  • The Consumer Sentiment Index should remain stable at 67.8.
  • The 5-year Consumer Inflation Expectation index should rise steadily by 3.3%.
• Equities are shooting higher, led by the Chinese semiconductor sector. Chinese technology stocks surged the most in three years, driven by optimism over Alibaba Group earnings.
• The CME FedWatch tool shows a 47.5% chance that interest rates will remain unchanged at current levels in June. 
• The US 10-year yield trades around 4.49%, slipping lower from its Wednesday’s high of 4.574%.

FXStreet