Dollar Steadies Near 18-Month Peak
as Geopolitical Risks Mount

Singapore, 13 Oct 2026 (ONA) — The
dollar steadied at the start of Asian trading today following a holiday
observed by some US markets, as geopolitical risks remain clouded in
uncertainty and markets await economic data on the Federal Reserve’s interest
rate path.

The dollar index, which measures the
performance of the American currency against a basket of six major currencies,
stood at 102.56 points in quiet Asian trading, after ending yesterday’s session
up about 0.3 percent.

The dollar continues to trade near
its highest levels since April of last year.

Rising energy costs and climbing US
Treasury yields have helped support the dollar against major currencies in
recent times, while turbulence in the French bond market has weighed negatively
on the euro’s strength.

The euro steadied at $1.1159 today,
while sterling held firm at $1.3209. The dollar declined about 0.1 percent
against the Japanese currency to 158.435 yen.

The Chinese yuan traded near its
highest levels in four years and steadied against the dollar at 6.6950 yuan in
offshore trading.

The Australian dollar retreated 0.1
percent to $0.6956, while the New Zealand dollar declined 0.1 percent to
$0.5582, trading near its lowest level in 18 months.

— Ends/Khalid