U.S. Retail Data Helps Support Dollar – 15 August, 2019

Better than expected U.S. retail sales had investors questioning the looming state of the global economy after it helped the dollar propel against the yen. The safe haven currencies have been gaining a lot of attention over the week with more people looking to invest in an uncertain future. The dollar was last up 0.11% against the yen, with data showing strong sales in a range of goods while cutting back on putting their money in motor vehicles. Against a basket of major currencies, the dollar index was up 0.11% to 98.05. Sterling gained 0.42% against the dollar on better than expected retail sales and an effort to get Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reconsider leaving the European Union without a Brexit deal. The Australian dollar edged up 0.47% to 0.6779 on strong job data.