The Taiwan dollar ended a volatile August 11 session at NT$32.278, down 4.7 cents, after early strength driven by foreign capital inflows gave way to broader dollar buying. The currency briefly rose to NT$32.174, its strongest level in nearly three weeks, before reversing as geopolitical tensions, firmer oil prices and caution ahead of upcoming U.S. Consumer Price Index data (inflation gauge) revived safe-haven demand for the greenback. Combined turnover in the Taipei and Yuanta foreign exchange markets reached $1.95 billion, or about NT$63 billion. The move came even as Taiwan stocks recovered from an early slide. The benchmark index fell as much as 276 points before bargain-hunting pushed it up 191.96 points to 45,120.72, with foreign investors buying a net NT$22.33 billion in listed shares and the three major institutional investors posting combined net purchases of NT$28.18 billion. Traders said the currency and equity markets diverged as stalled U.S.-Iran talks over ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz supported oil prices and kept the dollar firm. Across Asia, Taiwan's central bank said the U.S. dollar index was up 0.25% as of 4 p.m. The Japanese yen led regional losses, falling 0.55%, while the Singapore dollar dropped 0.21%, the Taiwan dollar weakened 0.15% and the Chinese yuan slipped 0.04%; only the South Korean won rose, edging up 0.05%. Traders expect the Taiwan dollar to stay range-bound between NT$32.1 and NT$32.5 in the near term, with attention shifting to U.S. inflation data and the subsequent Producer Price Index report as markets reassess the Federal Reserve's policy path after weak July U.S. jobs data reduced expectations for a September rate hike.