Dollar Soars as Oil Prices Surge Past $100 and Trade Tensions Escalate
The US dollar received a boost on Friday due to higher U.S. Treasury yields, which climbed to an over 18-month high above 4.7%. This increase in yields was triggered by concerns about inflation, fueled by a spike in oil prices and renewed trade tensions.
Brent oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel after Yemen's Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint. US President Donald Trump promised 'major military punishment' for Iran and its Houthi allies.
The dollar's strength was also driven by the Trump administration's announcement of new tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners over allegations of lax enforcement of forced labor bans. The move added to inflationary pressures, with Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho's head of macro strategy for Asia-Pacific, warning that 'the world must be prepared for a double whammy of tariffs'.
The dollar hovered near a 40-year peak against the yen, which remained pinned near a 40-year low at 163.80 per dollar. The US Treasury Department warned against excessive yen volatility and called for further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.