Dollar Holds Firm Amid Mideast Energy Fears

The US dollar has continued its upward trend, holding near its highest level of the past week. The currency's strength comes despite renewed fears of energy supply disruptions in the Middle East, which have pushed up bond yields and oil prices.

The U.S. dollar index, a measure of the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 99.081. This follows a gain of 0.3% on Thursday to reach its highest level since September 7.

The increase in the dollar's value is attributed to recent data showing U.S. producer prices increased by 0.4% in August. This met market expectations as energy prices rebounded during the month.