Nov 20 (Reuters) - The euro slumped on Wednesday as risk appetite deteriorated on growing concerns about escalating global tensions following Ukraine’s launch of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia.
Markets will also turn their focus to equities with Nvidia earnings after the close.
EUR/USD was hurt by the risk aversion as well as concerns over slow growth in the euro zone after Ford announced it would cut around 14% of its European workforce. European Central Bank Vice-President Luis de Guindos said the central bank is "not almighty" in reviving the euro zone's weak growth, which is mostly due to structural issues.
Earlier in the session, it was reported that euro zone negotiated wage growth accelerated in the third quarter.
Separately, the ECB warned about a "bubble" in stocks related to artificial intelligence.
The dollar index approached its year-to-date high amid haven-related greenback buying and firmer Treasury yields following a 20-year auction.
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman, among the U.S. central bank's most hawkish policymakers, called for a cautious approach to any further interest rate cuts.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said U.S. inflation continues to ease, with the job market cooling and price increases concentrated in housing, a situation that reinforces the view that rates should be cut.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to interview former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan for Treasury Secretary.
The pound advanced versus the euro after British consumer prices rose at an annual pace of 2.3% in October, an increase from 1.7% rise in September.
Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden downplayed the report, noting that British inflation is at least as likely to undershoot forecasts as it is to match them, potentially requiring faster rate cuts.
Treasury yields were up 3-4 basis. The 2s-10s curve was little changed at +10.8bp.
The S&P 500 fell 0.51% amid weakness in consumer discretionary and tech shares
Oil slipped 0.35% after an EIA report that crude inventories increased. Natural gas prices surged over 6% to a 10-month high on colder forecasts and a jump in LNG feedgas.
Gold rose 0.60% on the escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions, while bitcoin jumped over 2% to a new record.
Copper edged up 0.28% after reaching technical support.
Heading toward the close: EUR/USD -0.64%, USD/JPY +0.42%, GBP/USD -0.24%, AUD/USD -0.55%, DXY +0.54%, EUR/JPY -0.21%, GBP/JPY +0.13%, AUD/JPY -0.13%.
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(Editing by Burton FriersonReporting by Robert Fullem)
((robert.fullem@thomsonreuters.com;))
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