Forex Investors Reduce USD Holdings On FOMC Minutes Release

Expectations continue to build that the Federal Reserve will pause its rates tightening cycle in August, this will result in Forex traders cutting their long USD positions.

The latest release of minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting (FOMC) revealed that Fed officials are uncertain about the future interest rate direction and are concerned about short term inflation.

Forex Investors reacted to the release of minutes from the FOMC by continuing to reduce their USD holdings, this saw the Euro rise to a high of 1.2650 USD overnight from 1.2590.

The minutes were consistent with the Fed chairman’s Ben Bernanke’s testimony to Congress over the past two days in which he suggested that a pause in rate hikes would be a possibility if economic data continues to point towards slower growth.

Forex Investors holding USD also found little comfort in the recent Philadelphia Federal survey for July which fell to 6.0 index points, well below market expectations of 12.0 index points.

In upcoming events for next couple of weeks, the Federal Beige Book summary of economic conditions will be closely watched as will the next durable goods orders data and the next release of gross domestic product (GDP).