- Graphic: World FX rates in 2018 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
- Dollar dips as risk-averse mood supports yen, francs
- Trump's confrontation with Fed seen hurting confidence in dlr
The dollar fell against the safe-haven yen and Swiss franc on Tuesday as investors cut their exposure to riskier assets amid the partial U.S. government shutdown and signs of confrontation between the White House and the Federal Reserve.
The dollar fell 0.39 percent to 110.00 yen JPY= , its lowest level since late August and is set to fall for an eighth straight session against the Japanese currency, with London and New York shut for Christmas.
The yen also hit a 16-month high against the British pound, trading at 139.90 yen GBPJPY= and a four-month high against the euro, at 125.60 yen EURJPY= .
The Swiss franc rose 0.2 percent against the dollar to a 12-week high of 0.98355 to the dollar CHF= , extending its 0.9 percent rise on Monday, its biggest daily gain in 11 months.
Gold XAU= rose to a six-month high of $1,269.30 per ounce on Monday.
U.S. stocks plunged more than 2 percent while oil prices sank more than 6 percent in a holiday-shortened Monday trade, as developments in Washington added to investors' concern about a slowdown in the global economy next year.
"People are saying this is a black Christmas," said a veteran currency trader at a major Japanese bank.
Wall Street's volatility index .VIX , which measures the implied volatility of stocks and is often seen as a fear gauge for investors, jumped to 36.10, the highest since Feb. 6, when it briefly shot up to as high as 50.30.
U.S. President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Reserve on Monday, describing it as the "only problem" for the U.S. economy, only days after reports surfaced that Trump had discussed firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
"If talk of firing Powell becomes more realistic, that would undermine the Fed's independence as a central bank and ultimately confidence in the dollar," said Ayako Sera, market economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
As a sell-off in equities escalated, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hosted a call with the president's Working Group on Financial Markets, a body known colloquially as the "Plunge Protection team".
But holding such a meeting, which is normally only convened during times of heavy market volatility, did little to soothe the market. Some said the move may have backfired by hurting investor sentiment.
Trump also sparred with top Democrats in Congress over the partial shutdown of the U.S. government on Monday, with no sign of tangible efforts to reopen agencies.
Washington's latest problems come on the heels of a major sell-off in global shares since early October on worries about Sino-U.S. tensions, higher U.S. interest rates and a waning boost from Trump's tax cuts to the U.S. economy.
With many markets closed for Christmas, moves in other currencies were limited. The euro was little changed at $1.1410 EUR= , having gained 0.33 percent on Monday.
Commodity currencies faced fresh pressure as oil prices tumbled more than 6 percent on Monday.
The Canadian dollar traded at C$1.3584 per U.S. dollar CAD=D4 , having hit a 19-month low of C$1.3614 on Monday.
The Australian dollar fetched $0.7042 AUD=D4 , near this year's low of $0.7021 set in late October.
