Dollar continues ascent after Yellen's remarks

New York

BLOOMBERG'S gauge of the US dollar last week rose for the eighth time in nine weeks after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen signalled that the central bank is poised to increase interest rates next year starting as early as April.

The greenback headed for gains this year against all except one of its 31 major peers, a feat it hasn't accomplished since 1997, as Ms Yellen said the impact of Russian turmoil on the US economy is small. Hungary's forint and the Polish zloty sank on concern that the economic crisis that has driven the rouble down 44 per cent this year will spread. The Swiss franc weakened the most in two months versus the eu…