The dollar is rising sharply and settling near its highest levels of the year.

The U.S. dollar surged sharply early Monday, reaching levels close to its highest point of the year amid growing risk aversion across major global markets. The greenback climbed 0.94% ($8.70) in initial trading sessions, hitting 937.21, according to data from Tradingview. This brings it near the annual peak of 941 recorded on March 27. The rise comes against a backdrop of renewed tensions in the Middle East following new U.S. strikes on Iran, which threaten to undermine the fragile ceasefire agreement reached mid-June. The dollar’s strength was further reinforced by rising oil prices, with Brent crude surpassing $86 per barrel. At the same time, the dollar index, measuring the U.S. currency against a basket of currencies including the euro, British pound, and Japanese yen, rose 0.11%, crossing above the 100-point threshold once again. These developments reflect broader investor concerns over geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty. In Latin America, the Chilean peso faced downward pressure due to falling copper prices. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, copper dropped more than 1% despite lingering uncertainties caused by weather disruptions affecting production in Chile. Analysts noted that while supply-side risks such as storm damage and reduced output from Antofagasta have helped cushion some of the losses, fears of weaker global demand continue to dominate market sentiment. Emanoelle Santos, a market analyst at XTB, pointed out that although copper price declines have been partially offset by concerns over supply constraints, the overall impact on the Chilean peso remains negative. “The drop in copper directly affects the peso because it reduces expectations of foreign exchange inflows,” said Sepúlveda Soto, chief analyst at Admirals Latin America. He added that while there are factors supporting copper prices, such as production issues linked to storms in Chile and warnings from mining giant BHP regarding future output, short-term worries about declining global demand remain prevalent. The situation has also raised concerns about technology companies, particularly those involved in semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. These fears were reflected in the sharp decline of the Nasdaq composite index, indicating heightened volatility in tech stocks. Investors appear increasingly cautious as they weigh potential impacts of ongoing conflicts and shifting monetary policies on corporate earnings and valuations. The recent surge in the dollar and its implications for emerging markets highlight the interconnected nature of global financial systems. As central banks around the world consider maintaining high interest rates for extended periods, the outlook for commodities like copper becomes even more uncertain. This uncertainty could lead to further fluctuations in currencies tied closely to commodity exports, such as the Chilean peso. Analysts suggest that while temporary factors such as weather-related disruptions might provide some support to copper prices, the long-term trajectory will depend heavily on how global demand evolves. With the Middle East conflict showing no signs of abating and economic conditions remaining volatile, investors are likely to remain on edge, continuing to monitor both geopolitical developments and macroeconomic indicators closely.