The dollar index (DXY00) today is up +0.19%. The dollar is receiving support today on an increase in safe-haven demand after crude oil prices gained when Iran's FARS news agency claimed that two missiles had hit a US warship after it had ignored warnings from entering the Strait of Hormuz, although the US denied the claims. Iran's military said that US forces would be attacked if they entered the Strait of Hormuz. Also, today's better-than-expected US March factory orders report supports the dollar. The dollar also has carryover support from last Friday when President Trump threatened to raise tariffs on European automobile imports to as high as 25%.
Heightened US-Iran tensions are boosting demand for the dollar as a safe-haven. The US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. President Trump said he was sticking with a naval blockade of Iran, and Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed not to give up Iran's nuclear or missile technologies and said Iran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz.
