USA Financial And Housing Sectors

Dollar stays weak near record lows on concerns about health of financial and housing sectors.

News and Events:

The Dollar rose from a near record low against the Euro on Monday after the United States announced an emergency plan to restore confidence in mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The plan helped calm market concerns about the health of the US financial and housing sectors, since the two companies fund half of all US mortgages.

Billionaire investor George Soros told Reuters on Monday that government debt accumulation coupled with a U.S. recession leaves the Dollar vulnerable. Analysts said the Dollar's recovery would depend on whether the U.S. initiatives were enough to calm investors' concerns about the financial health of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Investors will also be watching to see how the latest developments affect Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's views on monetary policy and the economic outlook when he testifies before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. Money markets have scaled back their expectations for monetary policy tightening from the Fed and now don't expect it to start hiking until the final months of the year.