The U.S. dollar index has just hit a seven-week high and prices are trending higher, as seen on the daily bar chart. The greenback bulls have momentum to push prices still higher. A still-hawkish Federal Reserve and apparent progress on extending the U.S. government debt limit are bullish elements for the USDX at present. The stronger U.S. dollar is bearish for most commodity futures markets, as it makes U.S. goods more expensive, in non-U.S. currency, on the world trade markets. Stay tuned! Jim Wyckoff