* Dollar slammed across the board, DXY targets all-time low
* Euro/dollar above $1.46, poised to push towards $1.50
* Risk of profit-taking seen before Easter holidays
By Jessica Mortimer
LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - The dollar hit a three-year low
against a basket of currencies on Thursday as strong corporate
earnings buoyed risk appetite in illiquid pre-Easter trade,
threatening to drive the greenback to historic lows.
Ongoing expectations the Federal Reserve will keep U.S.
interest rates low battered the dollar to a 16-month low against
the euro around $1.4650, while traders said M&A-related demand
also pushed the single currency higher.
Analysts said the euro looked on course for a move towards
$1.50 if the current momentum continues despite the lingering
possibility of a Greek debt restructuring, which would
exacerbate fiscal problems facing weak euro zone countries.
At the same time, this week's threat by Standard & Poor's to
cut the United States' prized triple-A credit rating has knocked
dollar sentiment, reminding the market that the U.S. still has
massive debt problems.
"In the ugly dog currency competition the dollar is looking
like the really ugly dog. The euro zone at least looks to be
doing something about their debt problems," said a London-based
head of FX sales.
The chart outlook for the greenback looked dire after it
tumbled through a 74.17 trough hit in November 2009, a move that
may spark a run towards the 70.698 all-time low hit in 2008.
The Australian dollar soared to a 29-year high while the
Canadian currency pushed up to its strongest since late 2007,
though traders warned the moves could reverse as investors take
profit on short dollar positions before the long Easter weekend.
Signs of profit taking abounded in the European session,
with the Aussie stumbling ahead of options barriers at $1.0800
after surging as high as $1.0775.
The euro was up 0.6 percent at $1.4605 <EUR=>, with traders
citing bids from eastern European accounts above $1.46. Stops
were tripped on the way up after breaching an option barrier at
$1.4550 and the January 2010 high at $1.4583.
The dollar index <.DXY> was at 73.874, having slipped to
73.735, the lowest since August 2008 -- just before it surged
during the Lehman Brothers collapse -- as world stocks
<.MIWD00000PUS> marched higher.
"Strong earnings reports from a lot of companies have driven
risk appetite and we have seen huge moves in all dollar crosses,
but it would be surprising if we didn't see some profit taking,"
said Richard Falkenhall, SEB currency strategist in Stockholm.
Broad dollar weakness pushed the Swiss franc <CHF=> to an
all-time high, while gold prices <XAU=> also hit their strongest
ever.
EURO RESILIENT
The euro looked poised for further gains, with the path
clearing for a run at the 2009 peak at $1.5145.
It has vaulted from $1.4155 hit on Monday, and analysts said
that few in the market were brave enough to counter insatiable
euro demand from Asian sovereigns, which have been seen swooping
in to buy the currency whenever it sells off.
"People who have tried to sell euros so many times, they've
lost money trying to do so," said Adam Myers, senior currency
strategist at Credit Agricole CIB.
"We're going to see them either stick to the sidelines from
now on, or next time we get an aggressive sell-off in
euro/dollar, they'll come in an buy on dips along with Asian
investor," he said adding that a climb to $1.50 in the next
month was possible.
Market participants say central banks have recycling dollar
proceeds into the euro, Aussie and other currencies.
Asian authorities have increasingly had to intervene to buy
dollars to limit the gains in their currencies and then shift
them into other currencies and assets.
This has helped the euro to brush off ongoing worries about
the euro zone crisis, underscored this week by speculation that
Greece may have to restructure its debt.
A German sentiment survey on Thursday was below forecast but
still suggested Europe's powerhouse is holding up well.
[]
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Euro zone hit by Greek debt fears []
Breakingviews on Greek debt scenarios: []
GRAPHICS
Asset returns in 2011 http://r.reuters.com/zub29r
Inflation-adjusted gold http://r.reuters.com/ren88r
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The dollar lost 0.6 percent against the yen to 81.95 yen
<JPY=>, breaking support with a fall below 82.00 -- the intraday
high reached on March 18 when the G7 intervened to sell the yen.
Trading activity may start to slow before the Easter
holidays, with European markets shut on Friday and Monday.
(Additional reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Toby Chopra)
