[BRIEFING.COM] The US Dollar Index has traded in positive territory all session and recently hit fresh session highs. This has pressured the majority of the commodity complex, particularly the energy markets, excluding natural gas.
April crude oil has been in the red all session. Minutes ago, the energy component fell sharply to new morning lows of $80.43 per barrel, primarily due to the strength in the dollar index. Currently, crude is trading at $80.80 per barrel, down 1.7%.
The price action in April natural gas is independent from the energy market again. At the open, natural gas pushed into positive territory, back near earlier session highs of $4.13 per MMBtu. Currently natural gas is trading near those highs at $4.10 per MMBtu, up 0.4%.
Precious metals have traded in negative territory all session along with crude. April gold and May silver put in fresh lows minutes ago due to further strength in the dollar index. Currently, gold is trading just above its recent low at $1108.20 per ounce, down 1.7% Silver is also near recent lows at $17.14 per ounce, down 1.6%.
