Forex - Dollar sheds post Fed gains

The dollar has shed most of yesterday's gains in the wake of Wall Street's sharp rally following the US Federal Reserve's decision to lower its benchmark interest rate by three quarters of a percentage point to 2.25 pct.

After the Fed's rate cut, which was slightly less than the market consensus for a full 100 basis point reduction, the Dow Jones index of leading US shares enjoyed its best day in five years, helping the US currency to rally too. The euro fell down towards the 1.56 usd mark while the dollar climbed back above 100 yen.

'This rally hasn't been sustained and there's already a bit of a hangover after yesterday's celebrations creeping in,' said James Hughes, analyst at CMC Markets.

'It's going to be a case of simply sitting back and seeing just how far the major crosses do unwind now and whether there is any net effect of the rate news, but so far saving that quarter percent for a later cut is looking as if it may be little more than a very brief shot in the arm,' he added.

The Fed's accompanying statement proved to be more hawkish than many had expected. It showed that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) was divided, with two of the ten governors favouring 'less aggressive action.'
The Fed also indicated that it was giving increased attention to elevated inflation levels, thereby signalling that an end to the current rate cut cycle was fast approaching.

Antje Praefcke, currency strategist at Commerzbank Corporates & Markets, said the Fed's stance is unlikely to comfort markets for too long, given the ongoing uncertainty in credit and financial markets, despite good quarterly results yesterday from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and Lehman Brothers. (NYSE:LEH)

'It will take months before light is expected at the end of the write downs and revaluations tunnel and the flight into quality is likely to continue for the time being,' said Praefcke. 'Therefore, we think that the Swiss franc and the yen as well as the euro will push higher against the dollar.'
Analysts said renewed concerns about the credit crisis and the related economic damage are likely to set in again soon
Elsewhere, the pound will be in focus this morning when the Bank of England releases the minutes to the last meeting of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee and the statistics office releases the latest labour market report.

Bank watchers expect the Committee to have voted 8-1 to keep interest rates on hold at 5.25 pct in early March with David Blanchflower seen as odds on to have dissented and called for a cut.

If more vote for a cut, then the pound could be hit hard.

'This has the potential to weigh on sterling,' said Steve Pearson, chief currency strategist at HBOS.

Regarding the labour market report, sterling markets will be interested to see if there is a negative surprise. So far, employment levels have remained high despite signs of an economic slowdown elsewhere.

'In the case the labour market report comes in weak, the pound will immediately head south,' said Hans Redeker, global head of FX strategy at BNP Paribas.