- Graphic: World FX rates in 2018 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
- Euro leads gains versus the dollar
- Yen weakens after 8 straight days of gains
- Aussie, Kiwi up on back of broad dollar weakness
The dollar was broadly lower on Wednesday, pressured by a cocktail of negative factors including heightened concerns over the partial U.S. government shutdown and tension between the White House and the Federal Reserve.
Fears of a U.S. and global economic slowdown have sent U.S. 10-year yields tumbling by around 25 basis points in December, adding to the increasing strain on the dollar and further darkening its outlook.
"Moderating U.S. growth and political tensions are negative for the dollar and we expect continued weakness," said Sim Moh Siong, currency strategist at Bank of Singapore.
"I expect the biggest winner of global risk-aversion to be the yen."
The dollar has struggled particularly against the yen, losing ground for eight straight sessions as a broad risk-off move in financial markets benefited the safe-haven Japanese currency. It tried to steady in early Asian trade on Wednesday, edging up 0.3 percent on the yen JPY= to 110.64.
The euro EUR= gained 0.5 percent, changing hands at $1.1411. The British pound GBP= and Australian dollar AUD= also rose marginally.
Over recent months the dollar has struggled to shake off a growing list of bearish factors, led most recently by speculation over the outlook for U.S. interest rates, falling bond yields and the plunge in oil prices.
Last week, the Federal Reserve raised rates for the fourth time this year, and largely kept to its plans to hike rates next year despite heightened economic risks.
That prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to step up his criticism of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, with the public tussle between the White House and the Fed rattling investors.
Trump blasted the Fed on Monday, describing it as the "only problem" for the U.S. economy.
The partial U.S. government shutdown has also added to investor worries about growth and political uncertainties. The U.S. Senate has been unable to break an impasse over Trump's demand for more funds for a wall on the border with Mexico, and a senior official said the shutdown could continue until Jan. 3.
Elsewhere, commodity currencies such as the Canadian dollar CAD= traded at C$1.3596 in early Asian trade, close to its lowest level in more than a year. The New Zealand dollar NZD= was at $0.6729, up 0.06 percent on the dollar.
