The dollar was stable against other major currencies, with focus on the release of US new home sales data later today but with rising geo-political concerns in Iran likely to limit its market impact. The dollar has been regaining ground against the euro after Friday's strong US existing home sales data and comments by US rate setter Frederic Mishkin doubting that US inflation will go below the 2 pct level. Attention is now on the US housing market data due out this afternoon. New home sales figures for February are expected to show a rebound later today to 995,000 units, after a 16.7 pct decline in January. "The market impact of the data should be limited. Oil prices have risen after the UN Security Council imposed additional sanctions against Iran," said Hans Redeker at BNP Paribas. "Tensions in the Middle East are rising again as investors fear Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz. Rising oil prices will add to economic uncertainties especially if oil prices are caused by supply concerns," he added. Meanwhile the euro was steady after being boosted earlier by a stronger than expected French business confidence indicator. Statistics office Insee said the index rose to 109 in March from 108 in January - analysts had been forecasting it to come in at 107. "This jump in sentiment indicates that the euro zone's second largest economy should counter some of the downside risks posed to German growth by the impact of January's VAT hike. The more bullish outlook growth will make it easier for the ECB to justify a further rate hike, which we expect in June," said Stuart Bennett, economist at Caylon.