GLOBAL MARKETS-Dollar edges up, stocks higher as latest tariffs swirl

Reuters
11 Feb
GLOBAL MARKETS-Dollar edges up, stocks higher as latest tariffs swirl

Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Stocks rise despite tariff concerns, led by energy and tech sectors

Analysts worry tariffs may curtail Fed rate cuts

By Chuck Mikolajczak

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The dollar rose slightly on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of more tariffs, including on steel and aluminium, while a gauge of global stocks shook off concerns about more duties and advanced.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he would announce on Monday 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S., and reveal other reciprocal tariffs soon afterwards.

China's retaliatory tariffs on some U.S. exports take effect on Monday, with no sign as yet of progress towards a new trade arrangement between Beijing and Washington.

The dollar index =USD, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, advanced 0.13% to 108.23, with the euro EUR= down 0.13% at $1.0312.

"This is still very early days," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex in New York. “The market's sort of just sort of chopping around rather than really directional right now.”

Against the Japanese yen JPY=, the dollar strengthened 0.17% while sterling GBP= weakened 0.16% to $1.2386.

The Canadian dollar CAD= weakened 0.27% versus the greenback to C$1.43 per dollar and the Mexican peso MXN= weakened 0.37% versus the dollar at 20.642 as the greenback retreated from earlier highs.

On Wall Street, U.S. stocks were higher, led by gains in the energy .SPNY and tech .SPLRCT sectors. The S&P 500 materials index.SPLRCM rose 0.2%, buoyed by gains of more than 5% in steel companies Nucor NUE.N and Steel Dynamics .STLD.O.

Shares of McDonald's MCD.N also climbed to provide support for stocks after the fast-food restaurant reported its quarterly results.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS rose 4.77 points, or 0.55%, to 874.21 and was on track for its fourth gain in the past five session. Europe's STOXX 600 .STOXX index rose 0.63% to hit an intraday record of 546.34.

Europe's continent-wide STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.5% after slipping 0.38% on Friday.

Shares of some European steelmakers gained, reversing earlier declines, including Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal MT.LU and Germany's Salzgitter SZGG.DE.

Some analysts are concerned tariffs could rekindle U.S. inflation pressures, removing flexibility from the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, a possible outcome which has helped support the U.S. dollar since Trump's re-election.

Markets are largely expecting the Fed to hold rates steady at its March meeting, with expectations for a cut of at least 25 basis points not climbing above 50% until June, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

Morgan Stanley chief U.S. economist Michael Gapen said in a note to clients the recent imposition of tariffs raised the bar for rate cuts and the firm only expects a single cut this year, to come at the June meeting.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak on Tuesday for the semiannual monetary policy testimony before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. His comments on tariffs and inflation are likely to be closely monitored.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes US10YT=RR fell 1.8 basis points to 4.469% in the wake of comments from Trump on Sunday that his administration may look into Treasury debt payments for signs of fraud.

Oil prices rebounded despite lingering fears over a potential global trade war. U.S. crude CLc1 rose 1.49% to $72.06 a barrel and Brent LCOc1 rose to $75.64 per barrel, up 1.29% on the day.

Mexico and Canada accounted for almost 40% of US steel imports last year https://reut.rs/4jTfVNA

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak, additional reporting by Karen Brettell; Editing by Toby Chopra)

((charles.mikolajczak@tr.com; @ChuckMik;))

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