By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) — The dollar index extended an 11-session streak of gains in Asian trading hours on Tuesday while the euro weakened, as investors continued to fret that Greece’s political stalemate will see the country exit the euro zone.
The ICE dollar index DXY -0.20% , which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies traded at 80.676, from 80.612 in late North American trading on Monday.
The 11-session winning streak of the dollar index recorded Monday matched a winning span from August 2008, just before the last financial crisis really took off.
“Risk appetite continued to deteriorate as Greeks struggle to form a coalition government,” said Kintai Cheung, strategist at Credit Agriciole.
“Another round of elections looks likely, intensifying the concern over [a] Greek exit from the euro,” the strategist added.
The euro EURUSD +0.24% traded at $1.2830, down from $1.2840 in late North American trading the previous day.
The dollar USDJPY +0.08% edged higher against the Japanese yen, buying ¥79.92 versus ¥79.86 in late trading Monday.
The British pound GBPUSD +0.08% was at $1.6091 against $1.6097 while the Australian dollar AUDUSD +0.42% traded at 99.84 U.S.cents, compared with 99.72 U.S cents late Monday.
Sarah Turner is MarketWatch's bureau chief in Sydney.
