FOREX-Dollar retreats as oil slides on Middle East pause; focus on central banks

The Norwegian crown NOK=D3 strengthened 0.4% to 9.567 per dollar. The currency has been among the best-performing majors this month, buoyed by a rebound in oil prices that has improved the outlook for the energy-exporting economy.

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin BTC= was up about 1% at $65,155.60, while ether ETH= climbed 2.7% to its highest since June 2 at $1,963.70.

The Bank of England and Bank of Japan are widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at their meetings on Thursday and Friday, respectively, while maintaining a cautious stance on inflation.

With the yen pinned near last week's 40-year lows against the dollar, the Bank of Japan is expected to leave the door open to further hikes to arrest the currency's decline, although policymakers will likely stay ambiguous on the pace and timing of the moves. Verbal efforts to support the Japanese currency have so far yielded muted results.