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* Graphic: World FX rates tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Fed minutes loom on horizon
* UK inflation doubles
* China"s policy moves unsettle cryptocurrencies
By Julien Ponthus
LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - The dollar hovered around its
lowest levels of the year against major currencies on Wednesday
as inflation-wary traders awaited U.S. Federal Reserve minutes
and China"s tough stance on cryptocurrencies sent bitcoin and
Ether tumbling down.
With data showing last week the fastest increase in U.S.
consumer prices in more than a decade, fears are growing that
interest rates will be raised sooner than expected despite
Federal Reserve policymakers stressing the spike is temporary.
The minutes from the Fed"s most recent meeting due later on
Wednesday are expected to confirm that policymakers think a rate
hike is still in the distance but any discordant note on that
sensitive subject could have a significant market impact.
The dollar index was flat against its basket of six
major currencies in morning trading in Europe at 89.804 but in
striking distance of its January 8 low of 89.664.
Exposing the pressure mounting on prices across the global
economy, UK inflation more than doubled in April to 1.5% from a
month earlier.
"We do not believe that higher inflation will be fully
transitory as many in markets contend and as global central
bankers seem to presume", commented Kallum Pickering, an
economist at Berenberg, adding he believes inflation is at a
turning point.
The British pound bought $1.4182, just below the
$1.4240 level touched in February, its highest since 2018.
South Africa and Canada were also due to publish consumer
price data later on Wednesday.
Against the Canadian dollar, the greenback traded
at C$1.2071, close to its weakest since May 2015.
The euro was at its highest against the dollar
since the beginning of January at $1.2223.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the selling pressure on
commodities weighed on the Australian and New Zealand
dollars which both retreated just short of 0.4% against
the dollar.
Cryptocurrencies retreated sharply after China banned its
financial institutions and payment companies from providing
services related to cryptocurrency transactions, and warned
investors against speculative crypto trading.
Bitcoin tumbled to a three-month low of $38,514
before limiting its losses and claiming back the closely-watched
$40,000-mark.
Rival digital currency ether dropped to $2,856
then recouped some of its losses, trading down 12.7% at $2,950.
Chinese financial institutions will not be able to offer
cryptocurrency registration, trading, clearing, and settlement,
in a blow to investors who were betting that digital assets will
gain mainstream status.
"China has for some time been putting pressure on the crypto
space, but this marks an intensification – other countries might
follow now as central banks make strides towards their own
digital currencies", wrote Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at
Markets.com.
"Until now western regulators have been pretty relaxed about
bitcoin, but this might change soon", he added.
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Currency bid prices at 0817 GMT
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar $1.2215 $1.2224 -0.07% -0.02% +1.2245 +1.2214
Dollar/Yen 109.0600 108.9050 +0.13% +5.57% +109.1150 +108.8900
Euro/Yen
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