The overall mood among morning participants was weakened by reports of increased violence and instability surrounding the social and political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. That news helped prop up oil prices, which are currently up 1.3% to $98.45 per barrel. The advance has come in the face of a greater-than-expected build in weekly inventories.
The dollar has attracted additional buying interest in recent trade. It is now up approximately 0.5% against a basket of major foreign currencies. Although the greenback is currently up against a collection of competing currencies, it was recently down against Japan's yen to 80.15 yen per dollar, which marked the dollar's lowest level against the yen since 1995.