Dollar inches higher ahead of US inflation data; Aussie gains on rate bets

On August 26, the dollar slightly increased but remained relatively stable against major currencies as investors awaited U.S. inflation data. The Australian dollar reached its highest level in three months at $0.71865 due to a faster-than-expected inflation rate of 3.6% in the trimmed mean CPI gauge. Capital Economics analysts suggested the Reserve Bank of Australia might increase rates again in the future.

Apart from the Swiss franc, most traded currency pairs saw limited movement. The dollar climbed 0.1% against the Japanese yen and slipped 0.15% against the British pound. The euro remained nearly unchanged at $1.1671, ignoring reports suggesting ECB policymakers were ready to raise interest rates at their September meeting. Traders were focused on the release of July U.S. personal consumption expenditures data and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's keynote speech at the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium.

Economists anticipated core PCE to rise 3.3% in July, surpassing the Fed's 2% target. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's intervention in the market to lower bond yields added complexity to the situation. Ben Jones, global head of research at Invesco, believed the Fed's divided stance and another inflation print before the next meeting would likely lead to a speech without significant near-term policy cues.