$The dollar rose against most major currencies during trading on Friday amid strong demand for safe havens due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Israel launched airstrikes on Iran early today, targeting nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to respond with missile and drone attacks on Israel, initiating a series of mutual escalations that are still ongoing.
Media reports citing US officials stated that the United States has moved naval units that were stationed in the western Mediterranean eastward as a precautionary measure amid the current tensions in the region.
As a result, the fear index on Wall Street, "VIX", rose by 13.45% to 20.44 points, while oil prices surged sharply, and gold prices also increased with rising demand for safe havens.
A monthly survey conducted by the University of Michigan revealed a 15.9% increase in the US consumer confidence index to 60.5 points in June compared to expectations of a rise to only 53.5 points, while this reading is 11.3% lower than the level of the same month last year.
The consumer expectations index rose by 21.9% to 58.4 points, with a sharp increase in the current and future business environment indices.
In trading terms, the dollar index rose by 0.3% to 98.1 points by 20:47 GMT, recording a high of 98.5 points and a low of 97.6 points.
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar fell against its US counterpart at 21:06 GMT by 0.7% to 0.6489.
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar rose against its US counterpart at 21:07 GMT by 0.736.