[BRIEFING.COM] The US Dollar Index was slowly trending higher for the vast majority of today's session, which continued to pressure most of the commodity complex. However, in the last 30 minutes, the Index is pulling off session highs of 80.354, providing price support to most of the group.
March crude oil was trending off highs of $75.42 per barrel as the dollar strengthened until hitting lows of $74.04 per barrel just after 10:00 ET. Crude recently bounced off that level and is trading around the unchanged line at $74.39 per barrel, down 0.2%. March natural gas has remained in positive territory during today's session so far, hitting highs earlier this morning at $5.416 per MMBtu. The energy component has since pulled back and is trading at $5.366 per MMBtu, 1.4% higher.
Weakness in the dollar kept precious metals in the black for most of the session. April gold hit highs of $1087.50 per ounce, but has since pulled back near the unchanged line, while March silver just hit lows of $15.175 per ounce, but has also moved back near the unchanged line. Gold is currently 0.2% higher at $1078.80 per ounce and silver is 0.3% lower at $15.26 per ounce.
