* Longer-dated Treasury yields ease
* Apple shares up slightly after 2 days of losses
* Oil prices gain
NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) –
The U.S. dollar index registered an eighth straight week of
gains on Friday while global stock indexes ended slightly higher
on the day ahead of key U.S. inflation data next week.
The dollar index’s weekly winning streak was its
longest since 2014, bolstered by recent data suggesting the U.S.
economy is still resilient. For the day, the index was nearly
flat at 105.08.
In contrast, China’s onshore yuan ended its
domestic session at its weakest since 2007 amid concern about
China’s slowing economy.
Strong U.S. economic data this week have left some investors
worried that even if the Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged
this month, they could remain high for longer than anticipated.
Investors are waiting for the U.S. Consumer Price Index
reading for August, due Wednesday, especially with oil prices
rising.
“The dollar has been higher on the back of obviously
stronger U.S. data …, suggesting that the Fed perhaps has
another rate hike before the end of the year,” said Quincy
Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
Wall Street’s three major stock indexes ended barely higher,
with shares of Apple up just 0.3%. Apple had fallen in
the last two sessions on news reports of China curbing iPhone
use by state employees.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 75.86 points,
or 0.22%, to 34,576.59, the S&P 500 gained 6.35 points,
or 0.14%, at 4,457.49 and the Nasdaq Composite added
12.69 points, or 0.09%, at 13,761.53.
All three major U.S. stock indexes were lower for the week.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2%,
breaking a seven-day string of losses, while MSCI’s gauge of
stocks across the globe gained 0.01%.
Dollar gains have also prompted a step up in rhetoric from
Japanese policymakers growing uncomfortable with the yen’s
slide.
Japan’s top currency diplomat Masato Kanda said this week
authorities will not rule out any option to clamp down on
“speculative” moves, while chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu
Matsuno said the government was watching with “urgency.”
The Japanese yen was last at about 147.82 per
dollar and on the weaker side of the key 145-level that prompted
Japan intervention last year.
Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields slipped as investors
digested recent comments from several Fed officials, including
some comments that underpinned the view the U.S. central bank
may be able to pause in its rate hike cycle.
The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note
shed 1 basis point to 4.256%. The 10-year yield is
up about 9 basis points for the week.
In energy, oil prices rose to a nine-month high as U.S.
diesel futures rose and as investors worried about tight oil
supplies.
Brent futures rose 73 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at
$90.65 a barrel, while U.S. crude
