The dollar index (DXY00) fell by -0.04% on Wednesday. The dollar posted modest losses on Wednesday amid a mild recovery in the euro and the yen. The euro rose ahead of Thursday's ECB meeting, and the yen recovered slightly from Tuesday's 39-year low on the prospect of faster BOJ interest rate hikes.
Losses in the dollar were limited amid Wednesday's +2% rally in WTI crude oil to a 6-week high, which raised inflation expectations that could prompt the Fed to tighten monetary policy, a supportive factor for the dollar. Also, higher T-note yields on Wednesday strengthened the dollar's interest rate differentials and are supportive of the dollar. In addition, concerns that the war in the Middle East could widen are supporting safe-haven demand for the dollar after the Joint Maritime Information Center, a monitoring body for naval security, said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have deployed missiles and drones in preparation for attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have vowed to blockade shipping linked to Saudi Arabia and warned shipowners against calling at the nation's ports.
