By Tom Westbrook

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The greenback tracked towards month-to-month features on Thursday forward of highly-anticipated inflation knowledge that might ruffle the rate of interest outlook, whereas the sliding yen discovered a footing after a policymaker hinted at the necessity to exit ultra-easy insurance policies.

was on the cost, topping $63,000 early within the European morning for a achieve of almost 50% in February. The month-to-month rise is the most important since December 2020, and a document excessive above $69,000 is within reach. It was final at $63,051.

The yen and fellow safe-haven Swiss franc are the worst performing G10 currencies towards the greenback this month as buyers have sought out riskier property and as bets on U.S. rate of interest cuts have been dialled again – lifting the greenback.

The yen final traded at 149.87 to the greenback, down about 2% on the month. It was virtually 0.6% increased on the day after Financial institution of Japan board member Hajime Takata mentioned he felt there have been lastly prospects for attaining the financial institution’s 2% inflation goal, paving the best way to depart behind destructive charges and yield caps.

The yen is down greater than 2% on the euro this month and made nine-year lows on the Australian and New Zealand {dollars} as buyers decide up revenue by borrowing yen at charges close to zero and promoting it towards currencies the place rates of interest are increased.

“Takata’s remarks ought to add to conviction that an sooner than anticipated hike at March assembly shouldn’t be dominated out,” mentioned Christopher Wong, forex strategist at OCBC.

“With JPY shorts at document excessive, unwinding of shorts ought to see JPY bears run for canopy.”

The euro was regular at $1.0835 and largely flat for the month, as was sterling at $1.2665. The Australian and New Zealand {dollars} have misplaced floor in February as expectations firmed that price hikes have completed down below.

The New Zealand greenback specifically nursed losses at $0.6105, having dropped 1.2% on the greenback a day in the past when the central financial institution held charges and stunned markets with a downward tweak to its charges forecast. The Australian greenback ticked 0.3% increased to $0.6516 on Thursday for a month-to-month drop of 0.8%.

The Federal Reserve’s favoured measure of inflation – the core private consumption expenditures (PCE) worth index – is due afterward Thursday and forecasts are for an increase of 0.4%.

It was not way back buyers had been hoping for only a 0.2% improve however excessive readings on client and producer costs recommend the chance is for a end result as excessive as 0.5%.

“A stronger than anticipated PCE deflator could cause markets to scale back pricing for a Might price minimize even additional, supporting U.S. greenback,” mentioned Commonwealth Financial institution of Australia (OTC:) forex strategist Kristina Clifton.

Markets worth a few 20% likelihood of a Fed easing in Might, and have pushed out the possible timing of a minimize to June. Futures suggest a bit of greater than three 25 foundation level cuts this 12 months, in comparison with 5 at the beginning of the month.

The was little modified at 103.86.