The U.S dollar inched high up from four-month lows against the yen on Thursday, march 23, but gains were capped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s struggle to push through a healthcare bill.
The U.S. currency has struggled this week as growing doubts over Trump’s ability to push through with economic and tax policies triggered broad risk aversion and buffeted equities.
The dollar was up 0.15 percent at 111.350 yen JPY=, enjoying a bit of respite after sliding to a four-month low of 110.735 on Wednesday, when it fell for the seventh straight session.
The dollar index against a basket of major currencies was up 0.1 percent to 99.751 .DXY after its descent to a seven-week trough of 99.547 the previous day.
Its safe-haven status was also seen helping the yen as Tokyo dealt with a political scandal involving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, facing questions about his ties to a nationalist school involved in a murky land deal.
The euro was little changed at $1.0792 EUR= after advancing to a seven-week high of $1.0825 overnight.
The common currency has been supported this week on growing expectations of a tightening in European Central Bank monetary policy this year, and on bets that the anti-euro candidate Marine Le Pen will be defeated in the French presidential elections.
The pound was effectively flat at $1.2482 GBP=D4 and in reach of a one-month high of $1.2507 scaled on Wednesday.
The Australian dollar was down 0.3 percent at $0.7657 AUD=D4. The Aussie has lost about 0.6 percent this week, after a stellar 2 percent gain last week, as investors sought safe havens such as the yen, bonds and gold.
