Doha: The dollar was on the defensive against most major currencies on Monday as fresh Middle East tensions lifted oil prices and a global bond selloff stoked rate-hike bets, while yen weakness kept traders on alert for a possible intervention. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was flat at 99.325.

According to Qatar News Agency, the euro was last at $1.1621, and sterling fetched $1.3320, both down roughly 0.03%. The risk-sensitive Australian dollar weakened 0.2% to $0.7132, while the New Zealand dollar was little changed at $0.5837. The yen was last traded at 158.97, the weakest level since April 29, with its renewed weakness putting investors on alert for a possible intervention. Elsewhere, the offshore yuan weakened to 6.8150 yuan per dollar.