Dollar edges lower, but remains elevated on global growth concerns

Investing.com - The U.S. dollar edged lower in early European trade Wednesday, but remained near a six-month peak as global growth concerns weighed on risk appetite. 

At 03:20 ET (07:20 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded 0.1% lower at 104.612, not far off the six-month high of 104.90 touched overnight. 

German factory orders slump; safe-haven dollar in demand

The dollar has given back some of its recent gains in early European trade Wednesday, but it remains near its highest levels since mid-March as a string of disappointing economic data releases resulted in traders seeking out this safe haven.

The weak data continued Wednesday, as German factory orders slumped 11.7% on the month in July, much weaker than the fall of 4.0% expected.

Manufacturing data from Germany, Britain and the euro area showed declines on Tuesday, while their service sectors fell into contraction. 

EUR/USD rose 0.2% to 1.0737, having breached a three-month low of 1.0705 overnight, while GBP/USD climbed 0.2% to 1.2582, having also touched a three-month low late Tuesday.

Eurozone retail sales set to confirm trend

Eurozone retail sales are due for release later in the session, and are  expected to have weakened in July, dropping 0.1% on the month in July, down 1.2% on an annual basis, as consumers in the region remain under pressure with inflation still elevated.

The European Central Bank meets next week, and a run of soft eurozone data has raised the likelihood that the bank’s officials will agree to a pause in the rate-hiking cycle, further weighing on the single currency.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is also seen holding steady later this month, with Fed Governor Christopher Waller saying on Tuesday the latest round of economic data gives the U.S. central bank space to see if it needs to raise interest rates again.

There is the release of ISM non-manufacturing PMI data later in the session which could provide more information about the health of the U.S. economy.

Yen remains near 10-month low

USD/JPY fell 0.3% to 147.27, with the yen recovering slightly from a 10-month low hit earlier in the session.

Japanese officials once again warned markets on betting against the currency, with top currency diplomat Masato Kanda telling reporters that the government “won't rule out any options” if speculation against the yen persists. 

Japanese authorities intervened to support the currency after it hit 30-year lows last year, and the market is awaiting similar action as the pair gradually heads towards the 150 level.

USD/CNY rose 0.1% to 7.3087, crossing the 7.3 mark and hitting its weakest level to the dollar since November 2022 as markets continued to fret over a slowing economic recovery in the world’s second-largest economy.

AUD/USD rose 0.1% to 0.6384, with the Aussie dollar helped by data showing Australia’s economy grew slightly more than expected in the second quarter, easing concerns over a recession.