In remarks before Council on Foreign Relations today Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said the U.S. is open to an SDR linked currency… Geithner later clarified his remarks by saying that “the dollar remains the world’s dominant reserve currency” and that that is likely to continue for some time, but the results of his remarks were predictable:
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sent the dollar tumbling with comments about China’s ideas for overhauling the global monetary system, only to drive it back up by affirming that it should remain the world’s reserve currency.
Geithner was initially asked at a Council on Foreign Relations event in New York about proposals from People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan for a new international reserve currency. He said “as I understand his proposal, it’s a proposal designed to increase the use of the IMF’s special drawing rights. And we’re actually quite open to that.”
The dollar slid as much as 1.3 percent against the euro within 10 minutes of news accounts of Geithner’s remarks. The U.S. currency was down 0.6 percent at $1.3553 as of 12:31 p.m. in New York.
Roger Altman, who worked with Geithner as deputy Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, later asked Geithner whether he wanted to “clarify” his remarks.
“I’d like to ask one final question, in effect on behalf of the market,” said Altman, founder of Evercore Partners Inc. “Let me ask the question this way. Do you see any change over the foreseeable future in the basic role of the dollar as the world’s key reserve currency?”
‘Strong’ Dollar
Geithner responded by saying that “I think the dollar remains the world’s dominant reserve currency.” In an interview with CNBC broadcast after the event, the Treasury chief said that a “strong dollar” is in “America’s interest.”
Inexperienced, incompetent and in over is his head.
Related
- Still Mr. Lonely: Another Treasury pick jumps ship – Michelle Malkin
- Fumble! Geithner speaks, dollar dives – Hot Air
- Geithner Reiterates Support of a Strong Dollar – Wall Street Journal
- Geithner gaffe roils markets – Washington Times
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