Muscat: The dollar held on to its gains today as positive economic readings and shifting expectations for Federal policy outweighed concerns about another US government shutdown. The Australian dollar rose ahead of an expected rate hike by the nation's central bank, the first of three major central bank decisions this week.

According to Oman News Agency, the yen remained lower as Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama tried to play down comments from the prime minister that there were benefits to a weaker currency. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was little changed at 97.50, after a two-day advance.

The euro gained 0.1% at $1.1804, and the yen increased by 0.1% to 155.53 per dollar. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar rose by 0.3% to $0.6965. New Zealand's kiwi also strengthened, posting a 0.3% rise to $0.6017, while sterling rose by 0.1% to $1.3676.