By Odin's Beard! The Dollar Rises as Swords Clash in the East!

The Eagle Takes Flight! (Again)

Hark! It seems even the gods themselves are fickle. One day the U.S. dollar languishes a wounded eagle grounded by whispers of weak policy and greedy short sellers. But fear not for like a Viking raiding a monastery it has risen again! It appears some squabble in the east a spat between Israel and Iran has sent trembling merchants scurrying for safety clutching at the greenback like a drowning man to driftwood. 'Sometimes,' as I told Ivar the Boneless 'you must make peace with your enemies but only after you've made them fear you.'

Netanyahu's Fury and Rubio's Woe!

This Netanyahu a fierce warrior it seems has unleashed his winged serpents upon Iran claiming a 'targeted military operation.' Bah! They all claim such things. Remember when I 'targeted' England? But this Marco Rubio he cries foul claiming the U.S. had no hand in it! Perhaps he fears upsetting the delicate balance or maybe he just doesn't want to share the spoils. Who knows what goes on in the minds of these southerners? But I do know that such actions have rippled through the markets. 'The world is not as fragile as the priests would have us believe,' I once said. But I never said it was predictable either!

Francs and Yen Oh My!

Even the Swiss and the Japanese those masters of coin seek solace in the dollar. The franc and the yen usually safe harbors in stormy seas are cast aside! A strange day indeed when even the most careful among us flee to the American embrace. Makes a Viking wonder doesn't it? Is it strength or simply the illusion of it that draws them in? Either way the dollar benefits like a longship laden with plunder sailing home.

The Seer's Warning: Oil and Gold Glitter!

As the dollar dances so too do oil and gold. The black gold vital for the engines of war and commerce surges like a berserker in battle. The yellow metal prized by kings and gods alike gleams with newfound allure. Fear you see is a powerful motivator. It fills coffers and empties them just as quickly. The Deutsche Bank strategists wail that this attack has caused markets to cascade! I’d tell those old women to calm down! It’s always something.

Traders Tremble! (Slightly)

The ING strategists clever men they are observe that the dollar's reaction should have been fiercer. Perhaps even they are puzzled! But they believe that the length and breadth of this Middle Eastern squabble will continue to squeeze the dollar. 'Power is always dangerous,' I once mused. These Americans they wield much power and with it comes great responsibility. Let us hope they use it wisely or we may all find ourselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

The Crowded Trade and Dollar's Fate

Even with the U.S. dollar on the rise in the market many still think it doomed. This Bank of America speaks of 'dollar shorts' daring to bet against the greenback! But conviction remains. Only time will tell if they’ll be right or wrong and end up at the bottom of the ocean. For now the dollar enjoys a moment in the sun fueled by fear and uncertainty. 'We must become what they fear,' I once said to Floki. Let us hope the U.S. dollar does not become feared for the wrong reasons.