Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover
TT

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Bahrain’s dinar recovered against the American dollar in the spot markets during early trading on Wednesday, while Central Bank of Bahrain announced covering the most recent issuance of government treasury bills up to 129 percent.

The recovery of the Bahraini dinar came quick after the standpoint announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain in which Saudi Arabia announced that it continues along with Kuwait and UAE talks with Bahrain to reinforce the financial conditions stability.

“The kingdom of Bahrain, along with its sisters Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, will announce a programme to support the stability of the financial situation in Bahrain,” Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa told the official BNA news agency.

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait announced an economic program to support financial stability in Bahrain and the recovery of Bahraini dinar. A comprehensive program to back economic reforms and general finance stability in Bahrain is anticipated soon. Positive reactions were restricted to the progress of Bahraini dinar in which Bahrain bills recovered strongly.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan affirmed that Bahrain has started a package of financial and economic reforms, and will continue to carry out these reforms with the support of its sisters in the Gulf.

The stance announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain falls under the Saudi fixed policy to stand with Bahrain no matter what challenges it faces.

Saudi Arabia’s support to Bahrain comes as a continuity to the kingdom’s policy to its sisters and allies in which Saudi Arabia has been the first economic and political backer to Bahrain throughout the history of both countries’ ties.



Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
TT

Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo

The US dollar charged ahead on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields, putting the yen, sterling and euro under pressure near multi-month lows amid the shifting threat of tariffs.

The focus for markets in 2025 has been on US President-elect Donald Trump's agenda as he steps back into the White House on Jan. 20, with analysts expecting his policies to both bolster growth and add to price pressures, according to Reuters.

CNN on Wednesday reported that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries. On Monday, the Washington Post said Trump was looking at more nuanced tariffs, which he later denied.

Concerns that policies introduced by the Trump administration could reignite inflation has led bond yields higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note hitting 4.73% on Wednesday, its highest since April 25. It was at 4.6709% on Thursday.

"Trump's shifting narrative on tariffs has undoubtedly had an effect on USD. It seems this capriciousness is something markets will have to adapt to over the coming four years," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets.

The bond market selloff has left the dollar standing tall and casting a shadow on the currency market.

Among the most affected was the pound, which was headed for its biggest three-day drop in nearly two years.

Sterling slid to $1.2239 on Thursday, its weakest since November 2023, even as British government bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Ordinarily, higher gilt yields would support the pound, but not in this case.

The sell-off in UK government bond markets resumed on Thursday, with 10-year and 30-year gilt yields jumping again in early trading, as confidence in Britain's fiscal outlook deteriorates.

"Such a simultaneous sell-off in currency and bonds is rather unusual for a G10 country," said Michael Pfister, FX analyst at Commerzbank.

"It seems to be the culmination of a development that began several months ago. The new Labour government's approval ratings are at record lows just a few months after the election, and business and consumer sentiment is severely depressed."

Sterling was last down about 0.69% at $1.2282.

The euro also eased, albeit less than the pound, to $1.0302, lurking close to the two-year low it hit last week as investors remain worried the single currency may fall to the key $1 mark this year due to tariff uncertainties.

The yen hovered near the key 160 per dollar mark that led to Tokyo intervening in the market last July, after it touched a near six-month low of 158.55 on Wednesday.

Though it strengthened a bit on the day and was last at 158.15 per dollar. That all left the dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, up 0.15% and at 109.18, just shy of the two-year high it touched last week.

Also in the mix were the Federal Reserve minutes of its December meeting, released on Wednesday, which showed the central bank flagged new inflation concerns and officials saw a rising risk the incoming administration's plans may slow economic growth and raise unemployment.

With US markets closed on Thursday, the spotlight will be on Friday's payrolls report as investors parse through data to gauge when the Fed will next cut rates.