US Dollar Wavers on Surging Oil Prices, Weakens Against Swiss Franc

The dollar nursed heavy losses early in Asia on Friday, hovering above a record low versus the Swiss franc as investors sought safety in other currencies on fears the unrest in Libya will spread to other oil producers.

But a sharp retreat in oil prices from 2-1/2 year highs, sparked by an unsubstantiated rumour Mummar Gaddafi had been shot and Saudi Arabia's assurances it can counter Libyan supply disruption, could offer the dollar a brief respite.

"That safe-haven trade of going long Swiss may just turn around a little bit," a trader at a U.S. investment bank said.

Higher oil prices are seen as having a bigger impact on the U.S. economy given it's reliance on consumer spending to drive growth.

The dollar last traded at 0.9250 Swiss francs , having hit an all-time low of 0.9234 francs on trading platform EBS overnight. It has fallen nearly 4.8 percent against the franc in the last two weeks, its worst showing since June.




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