The same day, the dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of six major peers, fell approximately 0.7 percent, reaching 100.26, its lowest level since December 8. On Wednesday, the dollar index slightly recovered, rising 0.2 percent.
On Monday, Donald Trump said that US companies could not compete with Chinese businesses because the dollar is too strong. "And it's killing us," he told the Wall Street Journal. Trump's comments mark a sharp contrast to a two-decade-long policy of US presidents speaking in favor of a strong dollar.
The dollar was also affected by the news from across the Atlantic. In a major speech on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May indicated that London has opted for a hard Brexit strategy, adding that the parliament will hold a vote on the final deal with the European Union. As a result, the British pound surged 2.7 percent, its biggest rise since 1998. The currency has consolidated its gains on Wednesday.
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