Dollar on defensive as US government shutdown looms

Government funding expires at midnight on Tuesday in Washington (0400 GMT) unless Republicans and Democrats agree to a last-minute interim deal. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against six counterparts including the euro and yen, stood at 97.869 as of 0003 GMT, and fell as low as 97.633 overnight for the first time since last Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump warned The U.S. Labor and Commerce departments said their statistics agencies would halt data releases in the event of a partial sh ...