Dollar hits 10-day low as US, Iran reach peace deal

Dollar hits 10-day low as US, Iran reach peace deal
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Summary Dollar fell to a 10-day low after a U.S.-Iran peace framework eased oil fears. Risk currencies gained, while markets awaited further developments and BOJ action

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar slid on Monday to a 10-day low against its ‌major peers as news the United States had agreed to a peace deal with Iran sent oil prices tumbling and boosted demand for riskier assets.

U.S. and Iranian officials said on Sunday they have agreed on a framework for a deal ​to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oil ​prices slipped, with Brent crude futures down more than 4% to $83.82.

But caution lingered ⁠as President Donald Trump told the New York Times on Sunday if Iran failed to reach a final ​nuclear accord with the United States, he would restart military attacks on Tehran or make the United States "the ​guardian of the Middle East" in return for 20% of the region's revenues.

The euro stood at $1.1607 , up 0.35% so far in Asia, and Sterling strengthened 0.3% to $1.3448 .

The risk-sensitive Australian dollar fetched $0.7075 , up 0.50%, while the kiwi was up 0.4% at $0.5854 .

The ​dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, ​fell 0.31% to 99.492, the weakest level since June 5.

"I think we'll see the dollar fall over the course ‌of the ⁠next few sessions. We'll probably see some of the risk currencies like Aussie and yen appreciate a little bit. But I don't think we're going to see any huge moves," said Nick Twidale, chief market strategist at ATFX Global in Sydney.

"There's going to be a lot of wait and see, on how ​quickly the Strait really reopens ​and how long it's ⁠going to take for oil flow to really get back to normal. It's certainly going to be months rather than weeks."

The Japanese yen weakened to as ​much as 160.150, continuing to hover around the 160 level widely seen ​as a line ⁠in the sand for potential official intervention.

The Bank of Japan is set to raise interest rates to a 31-year high at the two-day meeting concluding on June 16, and signal its readiness to keep pushing up borrowing ⁠costs, undeterred ​by the temporary absence of its governor as it focuses ​on countering inflation risks from the Middle East war.

The decision would align the BOJ with other central banks shifting towards tighter policy, ​including the European Central Bank, which delivered a much-anticipated hike on Thursday.

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