NEW YORK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The dollar fell to its lowest level since January on Tuesday as investors awaited revisions to U.S. payrolls data on Wednesday and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech to the Jackson Hole economic conference in Wyoming later in the week.
Goldman Sachs economists expect that 600,000 to 1 million fewer jobs were created from April 2023 to March 2024 than previously reported.
A downward revision of 1 million jobs would mean 1.6 million jobs were created in that period, down from the 2.6 million initially reported, said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex in New York.
The prospect of a weaker labor market is why traders continue to price in the potential for a 50-basis-point cut in September, Chandler said. "People thought the Fed was behind the curve in raising rates, and now many people think the Fed is behind the curve in cutting rates."
Traders reduced bets that the Fed would cut its benchmark overnight interest rate by half a percentage point at its Sept. 17-18 meeting following hotter-than-expected shelter inflation and strong retail sales in July.
Weaker-than-expected jobs data could increase concerns about a potentially worse economic downturn than the expected "soft landing" in which inflation is tamed without a recession.
Traders in early August aggressively priced for imminent rate cuts after weaker-than-anticipated job growth and an unexpected increase in the July unemployment rate raised concerns about a possible recession.
A 50-basis-point rate cut in September is seen as having about a 28% probability, with a 25-basis-point reduction seen as 72% likely, according to CME Group's FedWatch Tool. Traders are pricing in around 222 basis points of cuts by the end of 2025.
Traders will focus on Powell's comments on Friday at the Kansas City Fed's Jackson Hole economic symposium for any new clues on the likely size of a rate cut next month, and whether borrowing costs are likely to be lowered at each subsequent Fed meeting.
With the August employment report and key inflation data due to be released before the Fed's next meeting, Powell may be reluctant on Friday to offer much clarity on the outlook for rates.
A slim majority of economists polled by Reuters expect the Fed will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at each of its remaining three meetings of 2024.
Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said on Tuesday she remains cautious about any shift in the U.S. central bank's policy because of what she sees as continued upside risks for inflation, warning that overreacting to any single data point could jeopardize the progress already made.
The Fed is also due to release the minutes from its July 30-31 meeting on Wednesday.
DOLLAR BROADLY LOWER
The dollar index was last down 0.42% at 101.44, its lowest level since Jan. 2. The euro rose 0.31% to $1.1119, its strongest since Dec. 28.
Sterling was up 0.29% at $1.3026 after reaching $1.3054, the highest level since July 2023.
The dollar weakened 0.82% to 145.36 Japanese yen a day after hitting 145.20, the lowest level since Aug. 7.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is expected to discuss the central bank's decision last month to raise interest rates when he appears in parliament on Friday.
Data next week is expected to show Japan's consumer inflation rate picked up in July for a third consecutive month, a Reuters poll of 18 economists showed, keeping the central bank on course to consider another rate hike after lifting short-term rates to 0.25% last month.
Sweden's crown rose despite a rate cut by the Swedish central bank. It also said it could speed up the policy easing if price pressures did not pick up.
It was last up 1.24% versus the dollar at 10.206 and reached 10.194, the strongest level since March 12.
In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin gained 0.11% to $59,173.
Reporting by Karen Brettell; Additional reporting by Stefano Rebaudo; Editing by Paul Simao and Richard Chang
