Geithner vows not to devalue US dollar, easing fears of 'currency war' (+ analysis); Over a million join protests against French pension cuts as fuel shortages bite; China increases interest rates due to real estate fears; US pressures Turkey on Iran sanctions; and more

Top of the Agenda: Geithner Vows against Dollar Devaluation

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the United States would not devalue the dollar (Reuters) for export advantage. The dollar has experienced a protracted decline, and tensions have been rising over Chinese and US currency valuations ahead of this weekend's G20 finance meeting. Many emerging-market countries feel that Federal Reserve policies are weakening the dollar and causing more money to flow into their economies, which increases their currency values. Talk of a brewing "currency war" has ensued, as countries' central banks step in to prevent economies from losing export competitiveness. At the Commonwealth Club of California, Geithner said, "No country around the world can devalue its way to prosperity, to [be] competitive. It is not a viable, feasible strategy and we will not engage in it."

US officials have blamed China's yuan policy for distortive capital flows. Japan's finance minister declared the government's readiness to intervene in the currency market (WSJ) and urged coordination on currency policies at the G20 meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. At a meeting of central bankers in Shanghai, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn touted capital controls as a means to prevent another financial crisis (WSJ) in Asia, a policy the IMF has resisted until recently.

Analysis:

In the Financial Times, Felipe Larrain says the US dollar needs to depreciate against emerging-market currencies, as the gap between economic growth and interest rates in the United States and emerging markets grows.

On the WeeklyStandard.com, Irwin Stelzer says the "prospects for coordinated international action are dim" at the G20 meeting.

On RGEMonitor, Nouriel Roubini says real depreciation of currencies in deficit countries may occur via deflation rather than nominal depreciation, if surplus countries successfully resist appreciating their currencies.

 

PACIFIC RIM: China Raises Interest Rates

China raised its benchmark lending and deposit rates (Bloomberg) for the first time since 2007 amid an accelerating inflation rate and concerns that China's real estate market is overheating.

Despite global tensions over China's currency and trade policies, US businesses stand to benefit from China's waning labor surplus and its growing consumer affluence, says Princeton University's JC de Swaan.

 

ELSEWHERE:

- US to Meet with Turkey, Azerbaijan on Iran

- South Sudanese Agree on Secession Terms

- French Pension Protests Enter Sixth day

 

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org