1201 GMT - The dollar could continue rising as oil prices jump and the U.S. Federal Reserve suggested that interest-rate cuts weren't in the cards for now, Commerzbank's Thu Lan Nguyen says in a note. The Fed left rates on hold on Wednesday, as expected, while Chair Jerome Powell said rate reductions were much harder to justify unless the economy weakens. "The market is likely to feel vindicated in its assessment of the Fed's reaction function (i.e., fewer rate cuts due to higher energy prices)," Nguyen says. "This means that the dollar will continue to appreciate for the time being if energy prices rise further." The DXY dollar index trades steady at 100.104, not far from Friday's peak of 100.540. (jessica.fleetham@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 19, 2026 08:02 ET (12:02 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.