iFOREX Daily Analysis : June 13, 2016

 | Jun 13, 2016 07:06AM ET

The dollar ended the week sharply higher against the other major currencies on Friday despite diminished expectations for a summer rate hike by the Federal Reserve. The CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) Fed Watch tool indicated on Friday that there is a 1.9% chance the FOMC will raise rates in June. The probability of at least one rate hike in 2016 stood at 58.8%. A speech by Fed Chair Janet Yellen on Monday indicated that interest rates won’t rise until uncertainty over the economic outlook is resolved. Sterling was sharply lower, with GBP/USD tumbling 1.39% on Friday at 1.4258. The pair ended the week down 1.8% amid uncertainty over whether Britain will remain in the European Union or not at a referendum on June 23. The British pound and the euro fell to their lowest level since 2013 against the yen on worries about a possible disruption of European and political and economic affairs. In the week ahead, investors will be turning their attention to Wednesday’s monetary policy announcement by the Fed for clues on the future direction of U.S. interest rates. Monetary policy meetings in Japan, Switzerland and the U.K. will also be closely watched.

EUR/USD

The euro fell sharply on Friday against the dollar dropping to fresh 1-week lows, as Brexit concerns and a massive government bond yield issued throughout the euro zone sent investors towards the dollar. On Friday, the euro settled below 1.13 against its American counterpart for the first time in seven sessions. Investors continued to pile into safe-haven assets on Friday, as government bond yields worldwide tumbled to fresh record lows. The dollar also received strong upside pressure from solid consumer spending data on Friday morning. In the week ahead, investors will be turning their attention to Wednesday’s monetary policy announcement by the Fed for clues on the future direction of U.S. interest rates.