Anna 
On Wednesday, the dollar remained close to its 5-1/2-month high, exerting pressure on the yen, which lingered near 34-year lows following comments from Federal Reserve officials indicating a prolonged period of higher interest rates.
Key officials of the U.S. Federal Reserve, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, refrained from offering guidance on potential interest rate cuts during Tuesday’s session, underscoring the need for continued monetary policy restraint.
Market sentiment shifted as recent data indicated a divergence from the Fed’s earlier economic forecasts, prompting investors to scale back expectations of future rate reductions. Additionally, the escalating tensions in the Middle East bolstered the dollar’s appeal as a safe-haven asset in the short term.
Analysts maintained a bullish outlook on the greenback at its current levels, anticipating further gains, particularly amid a potential escalation of the Middle East crisis.
Jane Foley, Senior Forex Strategist at Rabobank, reaffirmed the euro-dollar target at 1.05, citing potential safe-haven flows into the U.S. dollar amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
Amid fresh sanctions planned against Iran over its attack on Israel, discussions within Israel’s war cabinet further fueled concerns of a significant escalation, bolstering demand for the dollar.
Bank of America revised its forecast for Fed monetary easing, delaying expectations from June to December this year, a move expected to further strengthen the greenback if markets adjust to the absence of Fed cuts in 2024.
Against the euro, the dollar edged slightly lower to $1.0628, hovering near its recent 5-1/2-month peak. The dollar index, measuring its strength against a basket of currencies, remained close to its five-month high reached on Tuesday.
Market observers anticipate a potential hawkish repricing of the Fed’s policy path in the coming weeks, which could exert downward pressure on EUR/USD below 1.05.
Concerns about the yen persisted as it hovered near 154.79 per dollar, its weakest level in 34 years. Speculation of possible intervention by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) intensified, with discussions focusing on the 155 level.
Japanese officials expressed growing unease about the speed of the yen’s decline, although recent rhetoric has primarily addressed the pace rather than specific levels. Market participants noted that the yen’s depreciation was consistent with underlying factors, including Fed policy expectations.
Meanwhile, hedge funds have amassed significant short positions against the yen, raising the potential for a robust short-covering rally once the yen rebounds.
The dollar’s strength has reverberated across the currency market, prompting emerging markets in Asia to implement measures to stabilize their currencies, amid dwindling expectations of rate cuts in the region this year.
