Dollar closes higher, with investors paying attention to US data and awaiting statements from Fed members

The dollar in cash closed higher against the real in this last session of March, with investors attentive to data from the American economy and apprehensive about statements from members of the Fed.

The currency started the day pointing upwards, given Fed Director Christopher Waller’s tough speeches the night before. He said he is not yet ready to cut interest rates and argued that the Fed should not be in a rush to start easing.

Today, the final GDP review confirmed that the US economy remains strong, recording an increase of 3.4%, above the 3.3% expected. The market preferred to seek protection in the dollar before important events this Friday – Jerome Powell’s speech and the release of the PCE – when markets will be closed.

Here, the macro agenda was also loaded, with the release of the RTI and statements by Campos Neto, but operators reported no effect of this news on the exchange rate. The BC reported that the total foreign exchange flow was positive at US$356 million last week (18 to 22/3), accumulating a positive balance of US$2.292 billion in March, until the 22nd.

The spot dollar closed up 0.73%, at R$5.0154, after fluctuating between R$4.9805 and R$5.0179. The currency accumulated increases of +0.34% in the week; +0.86% in March and +3.34% in the 1st quarter. At 5:06 pm, the future dollar for May rose 0.55%, to R$5.0300.

Abroad, the DXY index rose 0.21%, to 104,572 points. The euro fell 0.38% to US$1.0785. And the pound lost 0.15%, to US$ 1.2618.

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