FOREX-Dollar slides to 2-1/2 month low as Fed rate hike fears subside

(Updates to U.S. afternoon trading) * Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - The dollar dipped on Tuesday for the fourth straight session, reaching its lowest level against a basket of currencies since late February on waning fears that inflation spikes could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than anticipated. U.S. Treasury yields stalled as investors grew more confident that the Fed will hold off on tightening its accommodative monetary policy, despite worrisome indicators that booming demand and scarce supply are sending prices soaring. Those price increases have stoked fears of longer-term inflation, despite the central bank's assurances that the spikes will be transitory. "The market has come around to the Fed's expectation that inflation is set to rise over near term but will plateau and decline in the coming months," said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington. "The perception is the Fed could lag other central banks in normalizing its policies." Several Fed policymakers are expected to speak this week and the U.S. central bank is due to release the minutes from its April policy meeting on Wednesday, all of which will be parsed for any signs of a shift in its economic outlook. "As long as the Fed maintains this very dovish policy stance, that's going to leave the dollar vulnerable," Manimbo added. "Having said that, the Fed signaling a change in course might not be that long in the offing if we see strong data, especially in the job market and inflation." The dollar index was last down 0.48% at 89.747. The progress of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and easing of measures to contain the pandemic have lifted higher-risk currencies that stand to benefit most from economic revival. For an interactive graphic on worldwide vaccine rollout and access, click here https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access. The euro gained 0.63% to $1.223, passing its highest level since Feb. 25, and the dollar fell 0.25% to 108.89 Japanese yen. The British pound, buoyed by the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, passed the $1.42 level for the first time since Feb. 24. "It's a good day for the pound," Manimbo said. "The Bank of England has upgraded outlook for the UK economy and the pound is starting to bear the fruit of that. Britain's strong vaccine rollout has pulled growth forward." Rising oil prices supported the Norwegian crown and helped boost the Canadian dollar to a six-year high. Bitcoin dipped 1.9% to a more than three-month low, extending its slide after Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk dampened enthusiasm for the cryptocurrency over the weekend. Rival digital currency ether rose 2.48% to $3,363. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 3:24PM (1924 GMT) Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Dollar index 89.7370 90.1840 -0.48% -0.271% +90.2040 +89.6890 Euro/Dollar $1.2228 $1.2152 +0.63% +0.08% +$1.2234 +$1.2153 Dollar/Yen 108.8900 109.1750 -0.25% +5.43% +109.2750 +108.8550 Euro/Yen 133.14 132.73 +0.31% +4.90% +133.1600 +132.7000 Dollar/Swiss 0.8966 0.9033 -0.73% +1.35% +0.9035 +0.8961 Sterling/Dollar $1.4191 $1.4139 +0.38% +3.88% +$1.4220 +$1.4135 Dollar/Canadian 1.2053 1.2068 -0.11% -5.33% +1.2081 +1.2014 Aussie/Dollar $0.7803 $0.7770 +0.40% +1.40% +$0.7813 +$0.7765 Euro/Swiss 1.0964 1.0974 -0.09% +1.45% +1.0982 +1.0952 Euro/Sterling 0.8615 0.8593 +0.26% -3.60% +0.8619 +0.8582 NZ $0.7252 $0.7216 +0.50% +0.99% +$0.7271 +$0.7211 Dollar/Dollar Dollar/Norway 8.2065 8.2570 -0.49% -4.31% +8.2580 +8.1795 Euro/Norway 10.0363 10.0345 +0.02% -4.11% +10.0530 +10.0019 Dollar/Sweden 8.2757 8.3285 -0.03% +0.97% +8.3434 +8.2743 Euro/Sweden 10.1195 10.1225 -0.03% +0.43% +10.1486 +10.1155 (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Additional reporting by Ritvik Carvalho; Editing by Dan Grebler)