The dollar was steady on Monday, holding near 2 1/2-year lows against the euro after the White House stepped up sanctions on top Russian officials in the wake of Crimea’s vote to leave Ukraine.
“The international community will continue to stand together to oppose any violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Obama said in a briefing Monday morning.
While tensions between Russia and the West are rising, there was no sign of violence in the Ukraine.
Crimea claimed 97 percent of votes were in favor of breaking off from Ukraine and rejoining Russia.
A better-than-expected U.S. industrial production report and tame inflation from the euro zone were overshadowed by developments in Ukraine.
The dollar was stuck at $1.3912 versus the euro, about a penny from last week’s multi-year low near $1.40.
Early gains versus the sterling evaporated by mid-day, leaving the dollar at $1.665, virtually unchanged from last week.
The dollar crept slightly higher versus the yen, hitting Y101.60 in choppy trading.
U.S. industrial production climbed 0.6 percent in February, the Federal Reserve reported Monday, the fastest monthly growth rate since August.
Final data from Eurostat showed that Eurozone inflation fell to 0.7 percent in February from 0.8 percent in January. The flash estimate for February was revised down from 0.8 percent.
The tame inflation figures may pressure the European Central Bank to lower interest rates next month.
Germany’s manufacturing employment increased in January, data from Destatis showed. About 5.2 million people worked in local units of manufacturing with 50 or more persons employed in Germany. There was a rise by 40,000 persons or 0.8 percent from January last year.