The dollar index , which measures the currency against six rivals, rose 0.078% at 103.07, having gained 0.5% on Friday amid banking jitters, with shares of Deutsche Bank sliding nearly 9%.
Global banking stocks have been battered through the month
in the wake of the sudden collapse of two U.S. lenders and the
rescue of embattled Swiss bank Credit Suisse last week,
with authorities stepping in to ease investors nerves.
"Pragmatic action by central banks, governments, and the private sector has thus far been insufficient to allow investors to be confident that the problem is ring-fenced," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex. On Monday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said First Citizens BancShares Inc would acquire all of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits and loans from the regulator.
The U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council said on Friday the U.S. banking system was "sound and resilient" despite stress on some institutions. Investors, though, remain wary.
Risk-averse investors sent the yen to a seven-week high of 129.65 per dollar on Friday and the currency was on track to clock a 4% gain in March. It was last at 130.75 on Monday.
The Fed on Wednesday raised interest rates by 25 basis points, as expected, but took a cautious stance on the outlook because of banking sector turmoil even as Fed Chair Jerome Powell kept the door open on further rate rises if necessary. Markets are pricing in a more than 80% chance of the Fed's standing pat on interest rates in its next meeting in May and anticipate a rate cut as early as July, according to CME FedWatch tool.
"Contrary to the clear signal from Powell, the Fed funds futures are pricing in dramatic easing in the coming months," Chandler said. "This is extremely aggressive and stretches the imagination." Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said on Sunday the recent stress in the banking sector and the possibility of a follow-on credit crunch has brought the U.S. closer to recession.
"What's unclear for us is how much of these banking stresses are leading to a widespread credit crunch. That credit crunch ... would then slow down the economy," Kashkari said in comments to CBS show Face the Nation. "This is something we are monitoring very, very closely."
Meanwhile, the euro was up 0.05% to $1.0764, after falling 0.6% on Friday. Sterling was at $1.2235, up 0.05% on the day, having slid 0.5% on Friday.
The Australian dollar rose 0.09% to $0.665. The kiwi was up 0.03% at $0.620. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin last rose 0.84% to $27,861.02. Ethereum last rose 0.71% to $1,763.39.
======================================================== Currency bid prices at 0545 GMT Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar $1.0765 $1.0762 +0.03% +0.47% +1.0780 +1.0759
Dollar/Yen 130.7800 130.7050 +0.02% -0.39% +131.0400 +130.6400
Euro/Yen <EURJPY=EB 140.78 140.60 +0.13% +0.34% +141.0800 +140.5800
S>
Dollar/Swiss 0.9184 0.9197 -0.09% -0.63% +0.9199 +0.9182
Sterling/Dollar 1.2234 1.2229 +0.12% +1.24% +1.2251 +1.2227
Dollar/Canadian 1.3732 1.3760 -0.20% +1.35% +1.3743 +1.3725
Aussie/Dollar 0.6649 0.6643 +0.11% -2.44% +0.6662 +0.6637
NZ 0.6201 0.6201 +0.02% -2.32% +0.6212 +0.6192
Dollar/Dollar
All spots Tokyo spots Europe spots Volatilities Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Singapore. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Twitter: @AnkurBanerjee17;))