Forex - Dollar hit by concerns over North Korea rates outlook

© Reuters. Dollar hit by concerns over North Korea, rates outlook

Investing.com - The dollar remained lower against a basket of the other major currencies on Wednesday amid heightened tensions in the Korean peninsula and fresh doubts over the outlook for higher U.S. interest rates.

The , which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was at 92.23 by 03:51 AM ET (07:51 GMT).

Investors remained on edge after South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in warned that the crisis on the Korean peninsula risks becoming , following Sunday’s nuclear test by North Korea.

The dollar was weaker against the safe haven yen, with last at 108.66 after touching an overnight low of 108.50, not far from the four-and-a-half month trough of 108.26 set last Tuesday.

The dollar was near one-week lows against the Swiss franc, with at 0.9547.

The Swiss franc and the yen are often sought in times of geopolitical tension or market turbulence because both countries have large current account surpluses.

The dollar was also pressured lower after comments by a Federal Reserve official on Tuesday revived doubts over prospects for a third rate hike this year.

Fed governor Lael Brainard said the U.S. central bank should be cautious about raising interest rates amid the economy’s to reach its 2% inflation target.

Expectations that rates will remain on hold, compounded by political turmoil in Washington have driven the dollar index down around 10% so far this year.

The euro was a touch higher, with edging up 0.1% to 1.1925, holding below the two-and-a-half year high of 1.2069 set last week as investors awaited the on Thursday.

The Australian dollar was lower, with sliding 0.19% to 0.7981 after data showing that the country’s economy , below forecasts for 0.9%.

Elsewhere, the Canadian dollar was lower, with rising 0.16% to 1.2397, off Tuesday’s two-year low of 1.2335 ahead of the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision later in the trading day.

Data last week showing that Canada’s economy grew at the fastest rate in almost six year in the second quarter has bolstered expectations for a rate hike ahead of the meeting.

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