The Dollar firmed up some in early N.Y. trade on Tuesday, holding a small safe-haven bid, likely the result of concerns over the growth in the delta variety of Covid globally. The DXY printed seven-session highs of 92.19, though later eased back to 91.19 into the London close. Incoming data was strong, seeing a big jump in consumer confidence, and a record y/y rise in house prices. Wall Street and Treasury yields were little changed on the day, likely as investors head to the sidelines ahead of Friday’s key June jobs report.

The dollar has been trading with a firming bias, overall, posting fresh highs versus many currencies. The spate of cautious trading in world stock markets, due to concerns about the highly transmissible Delta variant’s spread in Asia and elsewhere, has revived some safe haven demand for the U.S. currency. Data out of Asia have been adding to the wary sentiment. Out of Japan today, while retail sales rose, the jobless rate hit a five-month high as a consequence of virus restrictions. This followed weekend data showing profits at Chinese industrial companies falling in May.

The dollar has been trading with a firming bias, overall, posting fresh highs versus some currencies, such as the pound and Australian dollar, although so far remaining off highs seen yesterday against other currencies, such as the euro. The spate of cautious trading in world stock markets, due to concerns about the highly transmissible Delta variant’s spread in Asia and elsewhere, has revived some safe haven demand for the U.S. currency. Data out of Asia have been adding to the wary sentiment.