Dollar inches up as markets on edge over Middle East conflict

The dollar firmed against major currencies on Monday, driven by safe-haven buying from investors fearing the Israel-Iran fighting could escalate into a broader regional conflict as they braced for a week packed with central bank meetings.

As both Iran and Israel showed no signs of backing off from their attacks, the prospect that Tehran might seek to choke off the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important gateway for oil shipping – raised broader economic risks from disruptions in the energy rich Middle East.

Scheduled weekend talks between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme were also shelved after Israel launched its surprise attack on Friday.

On Monday, the dollar rose 0.14% to 144.3 Japanese yen JPY=EBS, while the euro EUR=EBS was 0.14% lower at $1.1534.

In early Asia hours, the greenback was steady against the Swiss franc CHF=EBS at 0.81, while an index that measures the dollar against six others =USD was steady at 98.25.

Currencies that are positively correlated to risk such as the Australian dollar AUD= and the New Zealand Dollar NZD= were marginally higher.

“The dollar’s role as a safe haven will surely be tested, and recent price action has been inconclusive,” said Win Thin, global head of markets strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman.

“If the Fed delivers a dovish hold as we expect, the dollar is likely to resume weakening due to the worsening fundamental backdrop in the US”

Geopolitical tensions were the latest twist for investors and central bank policymakers who have been trying to navigate economic uncertainty triggered by US President Donald Trump’s move to reshape the global trade order this year.

Despite the dollar’s broader rise in the past few sessions, analysts were less convinced that the trend could continue until there was more clarity on the tariff front.

The currency has lost over 9% in value this year as investors remain nervous over Trump’s deadline on trade deals that come due in about three weeks, while agreements with major trade partners including the European Union and Japan are yet to be signed.

Investors now will look progress in any bilateral meetings with the US on the side of a Group of Seven leaders meet in Canada.

Top on the agenda this week is a host of central bank monetary policy decisions, with the spotlight on the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

The central bank is widely expected to leave borrowing costs steady but investors will likely lap up Fed’s views on recent data that has broadly indicated softening economic activity even as risks to increasing price pressures stay high. 0#USDIRPR

“What you’re going to see from their growth forecasts is that the shift towards lower growth is very much upon us and that will keep the statement fairly neutral,” Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone said.

The Bank of Japan is expected to deliver its interest rate decision at the end of its two-day meeting on Tuesday, with traders largely pricing-in no change to policy.

Expectations are that the central bank could also consider tapering its government bond holdings from the next fiscal year as the government pushes for more domestic ownership.

Central banks in the UK, Sweden and Norway are also slated to unveil their policy decisions.

Against an uncertain global backdrop, gold prices XAU= rose 0.22% to $3,435.5 an ounce and stayed just shy of their April record high.

Longer-dated US Treasuries were also marginally lower after Friday’s spike as investors considered the implications geopolitical tensions could have on price pressures.