Dollar Index nudges to a fresh high and slips back as Japan raises rates
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised its rate to 1.25% on Friday and the Yen weakened anyway. The Dollar Index ran to its highest level since late July on that and has given the move back, trading just above 100.30. The Euro is 57.6% of this index and the Yen is 13.6%, so seven tenths of what the Dollar is measured against belongs to a central bank that raised rates in September. Three central banks, a quarter point each, and the same two gaps The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its deposit rate to 2.50% on September 10. The Federal Reserve raised its rate to 3.75-4.00% on September 16. The BoJ raised its own to 1.25% on September 18. All three moved by a quarter point, so the two gaps that set most of this index are as wide as they were nine days ago. Japan‘s rate is the highest it has been since 1995 and exactly a third of the bottom of the Fed’s range. An increase that made the next one less certain The Japanese vote was 7-2, with board members Asada and Sato, both appointed this year, against. Speculators had flipped to betting on a stronger Yen before the meeting on









