9 July 2008, 18:12  Dollar eases after Iran missile test

The dollar eased against most currencies after Iran test-fired a long-range missile and world leaders wrapped up a key summit in Japan. The G8 powers wrapped up summit talks on the global economy today, with fresh warnings about the threat from soaring commodity costs but no quick fixes for jittery markets. "The end of the G8 meeting in Japan, without anything further on the dollar, has coincided with a missile test from Iran, which has prompted some renewed dollar selling against most currencies," said Derek Halpenny, economist at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in London. Iran test-fired its Shahab-3 missile, whose longer range puts Israel within reach, amid growing fears that the standoff over the contested Iranian nuclear drive could lead to war. The Shahab-3 was among a broadside of nine missiles fired off in the early morning from an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert, state-run Arabic channel Al-Alam and its English counterpart Press-TV reported. "Overnight news of Iran testing nine long- and medium-range surface-to-surface missiles supported crude oil prices, which rebounded back above $138 a barrel, capping the greenback to the upside," said Manuel Oliveri, currency strategist at UBS. At the G8 summit in Japan, the world's eight richest nations made no mention of the U.S. currency in their joint statements, although French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the leaders were united in their belief that a weak dollar was bad for the global economy.

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