Dollar sinks for third week in a row

 The ICE U.S. Dollar Index finished lower for the third week in a row Friday as a mixture of weak U.S. data and signs of growth in the eurozone threatened the buck’s seven-month rally.

The dollar index DXY, +0.00% which measures the dollar’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six rival currencies, was up 0.1% Friday to 94.1910, but finished the week 0.5% lower. The euro comprises nearly 60% of the index’s value.

The euro EURUSD, -0.11%  was at $1.1387, compared with $1.1407 Thursday. It was at 135.28 yen in recent trade, compared with ¥135.66. Against Britain’s currency, the euro EURGBP, -0.20%  was buying 73.93 pence versus 74.13 pence on Thursday.

The pound GBPUSD, +0.08%  recorded a weekly gain against the dollar for the first time in five weeks, fueled by the BOE’s suggestion on Thursday that it could raise interest rates in 2016. It traded at $1.5397 Friday, compared with $1.5388 Thursday

Gas Market Update

Natural gas for March delivery NGH15, +3.06%  turned higher to settle 9.1 cents, or 3.4%, higher at $2.804 per million British thermal units after a drop of 3% a day earlier. It was up 8.7% for the week.

Gasoline Market Update

March gasoline RBH5, +1.63%  rose 1.9% to $1.626 a gallon to end the week with a 4.3% gain, while March heating oil HOH5, +3.03%  settled at $1.971 a gallon, up 3% for the session and up over 7% for the week.

Platinum Market Update

Platinum for April delivery PLJ5, +0.65% rose $7 to $1,207.50 an ounce and March palladium PAH5, +2.14% picked up $20.80 to $794.45 an ounce. High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, +0.00% ended little changed at $2.605 a pound.

Silver Market Update

March silver SIH5, +3.13% jumped 50 cents, or 3%, to end at $17.294 an ounce, for a weekly gain of around 3.6%.