The latest uptick was thanks to the Bank of Japan, which sent the yen falling through 130-per-dollar for the first time since 2002 on Thursday when it reinforced a commitment to its super-low yield policy.
The US dollar index, which hit a two-decade high of 103.93 in the wake of the yen’s tumble, was last at 103.53 and up more than 5.3% through April.Weaker-than-expected quarterly US growth data overnight proved little obstacle to the dollar’s rise, and investors hardly adjusted their near-term interest rate bets.
“Market participants increasingly price in a widening divergence opening up between the performance of the euro-zone and US economies and subsequently the outlook for European Central Bank and Fed policies.”