The dollar edged up on Monday, bouncing back from a more than 1 percent loss against major currencies last week as investors shook off dovish statements from the Federal Reserve. A slide in sterling on rising 'Brexit' fears also buoyed the dollar.
Monday's move higher in the dollar added to Friday's gains that followed a two-day selloff in the greenback. The rally was prompted by the Fed reducing its rate hike outlook for the year and statements from Chair Janet Yellen that made note of potential risks to the global economy. "It looks to me like we have dissipated the dollar weakness from the Fed," said Joseph Trevisani, chief market strategist at World-wide Markets in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
"It's taken a few days to run out and markets seem to be reassessing on the downside as far as the euro and the other currencies go. I don't think it's moved yet, but the Fed dovishness has played out." The British pound sank more than half a percent on concerns that a split in the ruling Conservative Party is deepening ahead of June's referendum on EU membership.
The dollar index, which measures the US currency's strength against a basket of its peers, rose 0.15 percent to 95.200 after falling for a third straight week. The pound fell 0.7 percent in morning US trading against the dollar to $1.4397. "Sterling does not normally react strongly to UK politics so this is probably due to Brexit," said Richard Benson, head of portfolio investment at currency managers Millennium Global. The dollar turned positive against the yen early in the session, rising 0.2 percent to 111.78 yen. The euro fell 0.1 percent against the dollar to $1.1256.
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