Peso at highest levels since late 2016 as US failure to contain coronavirus pressures dollar
The peso rallied against the dollar Friday to its strongest level since November 2016 with dollar sentiment dented by the US failure to contain its coronavirus infection levels.
The peso closed at P49.33, against its P49.365 finish Thursday, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
The week-earlier close was P49.44 on July 17.
The Friday close was the peso’s strongest since closing at P49.17 on Nov. 15, 2016, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort.
The peso opened at P49.38. The session low was P49.40 and the high P49.325.
Dollar volumes totalled $472.5 million, against $481.2 million on Thursday.
The dollar lost favor due to the surge in US infections, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said.
“The peso still trended toward strength as the US continues its bout against increasing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) infections,” he said in a text message.
COVID-19 patients in the US hit more than four million Thursday. The US new-infection rate is 2,600 per hour, the highest in the world.
Mr. Ricafort said the dollar also weakened after the release of the weekly jobless claims.
The weekly jobless claims data released Thursday showed nearly 32 million people receiving unemployment benefits in early July. — Luz Wendy T. Noble
