Why is the US dollar so weak? For most of 2014 our
forecast was that the US dollar would average US$1.29 against the euro; we held
our nerve while it stayed well below that but last month gave in and revised our
expectation to US$1.34. That is still above where it is now, but we think that
an appreciation is imminent, as strong US growth in the second quarter will bring the prospect of US
interest rate rises closer into view just as the European Central Bank loosens
policy.
Predicting immediate currency movements can be difficult, as
market sentiment and unexpected short-term capital flows need to be balanced
against fundamental economic drivers. In the case of the eurozone, slumping
imports as consumers tightened their belts in the southern periphery, Germany's
big trade surplus and Spain breaking its dependence on foreign credit led to a
large current-account surplusfor the eurozone. This, in turn,
supported the value of the euro and outweighed the US's stronger economy
and tapering of quantitative easing.
The Economist
Assinar:
Postar comentários (Atom)
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário