LONDON (Reuters) – Bitcoin passed near record highs on Friday, set for gains of more than 20% in a milestone week marked by support from leading companies such as Tesla Elon Musk, while the dollar losing losses came after weak U.S. data jobs.
The world’s most popular cryptocurrency traded around 0.5% down at $ 47,728, just south of the high of $ 49,000 reached after U.S. banking group BNY Mellon said has created a unit to help clients retain, transfer and export digital property.
Tesla revealed Monday that it had bought $ 1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, put bitcoin as a worthy investment for two assets.
Credit card giant Mastercard’s plans to offer support for some cryptocurrencies have also added to bitcoin’s intentions in terms of mainstream finance, but many banks are willing to get involved.
“We will not cover other speculative items such as old cars, works of art or expensive watches,” Commerzbank Research said in a note on why it would not comment on the bitcoin exchange rate that some analysts say $ 50,000 could be tested soon.
“Clearly there is some concern around this level,” Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told his clients, expressing fears that a correction could hit shortly after the $ 50,000 mark.
Elsewhere the dollar index rose 0.26% at 90.644 after controlled volumes in Asia due to the Lunar New Year.
He was, however, on the verge of a 0.5% fall for the week – the first week he lost in three – in what ING analysts described as a “confirmed sentiment” amid uncertainty over pace. US economic recovery.
Weaker weekly U.S. jobless claims data on Thursday added to concerns that the previous dollar rally had pushed back prices too quickly for the U.S. economy.
The dollar went up 0.3% against the yen at 105.03.
There have been differing views among traders this year as to how US President Joe Biden’s planned $ 1.9 trillion fiscal stimulus package will affect the dollar.
Some believe it strengthens the currency frontier as it should accelerate the recovery of the U.S. compared to other countries, while others thought it would fuel a global rebound statement that should fund more risk-taking at the expense of the dollar.
The euro slipped 0.25% to $ 1.2102 and crossed slightly below the $ 1.21 line but was led to a 0.4% weekly improvement.
The British pound slipped below $ 1.38 against the dollar but remained stable against the euro after data showed that the British economy suffered a lower recession in 2020, but grew in the last quarter.
Norway’s crown strengthened slightly and stopped some losses against the euro after data showed the country’s economy contracted by 2.5% last year, a decline that was not as severe as in most European countries other.
They traded last at 10.2980, relatively flat against the euro on the day.
Reciting with Julien Ponthus; Edited by Toby Chopra