Dollar Hovers Near Multi-Month Lows Amid Oil Price Surge
The US dollar continues to hover near multi-month lows against major peers as Treasury yields ease from recent highs. Investors are eagerly awaiting the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, seeking clues on interest rate decisions.
On Wednesday, oil prices surged to near three-week highs due to a stalemate in the Middle East, keeping inflation risks alive. US President Donald Trump stated that there were no talks with Iran and asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, contradicting Iran's assertion that it was shut to shipping.
The Canadian dollar rose slightly to $1.3880 after Trump paused imposing a 50% tariff on Canadian goods for three days, saying the countries had reached a deal. The euro inched up 0.1% to $1.1585, remaining close to its two-month high touched earlier this week.
The Japanese yen strengthened marginally to 159.32 per dollar, pulling away from the closely-watched 160 level after giving back much of its intervention gains. The dollar index was down 0.1% at 99.55, while a selloff in US Treasuries appeared to have paused.
Market participants are now turning their attention to the Federal Reserve's release of minutes from the most recent meeting of its monetary policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee later in the day, looking for clues as to policymakers' views on interest rates. Harvinder Kalirai, chief global fixed income and currency strategist at Alpine Macro, noted that if the Fed does not follow through with rate hikes, the upside for bond yields should be very limited.