The U.S. dollar held its position near a 10-month high against a basket of major currencies on Thursday. The dollar's strength was buoyed by optimistic U.S. economic data and anticipatory remarks from Federal Reserve officials. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against other major currencies, hovered around 106.58 after hitting an overnight peak of 106.84, its highest level since November 30.
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari and several other Fed voices cautioned markets on Wednesday about the possibility of more hikes due to ongoing economic strength in the U.S. This cautionary tone coincides with surprising strength in recent U.S. economic data that defies investor expectations for a slowdown.