Secretary hails 'weaker dollar' sending greenback plummeting

pulse

January 24, 2018 3:15 PM

He added, however, that "in the long term, the strength of the dollar is a reflection of the strength of the US economy and is and continues to be the primary currency, in terms of the reserve currency."

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday in Davos that a "weaker dollar" was good for the United States, words that sharply lowered the value of US currency on the markets.

"Obviously a weaker dollar is good for us, it's good because it has to do with trade and opportunities," said the top economic official from the US at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Already weak since Tuesday and the signing by US President Trump of fresh protectionist measures against China and south Korea, the dollar lost even more ground after Mnuchin spoke.

His comments were widely interpreted as a green light from Washington to let the value of the dollar crumble to support US exports that become cheaper.

The dollar fell against other major currencies and even hit its lowest level since December 2014 against the euro on Wednesday around 1300 GMT, to 1.2356 dollars.

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