The U.S. Dollar and Gold are both benefiting from the same underlying global unease, though for different reasons. The Dollar Index (DXY) has climbed toward 99.00, supported less by domestic optimism than by global fragility. With Japan’s political transition rekindling dovish expectations and Europe mired in industrial and political strain, investors continue to view the dollar as the “least ugly” major currency. Despite a prolonged U.S. government shutdown clouding data visibility, the greenback’s dominance confirmed by BIS data showing it on one side of nearly 90% of all FX trades has reinforced its safe-haven ... (full story)