The dollar strengthened broadly in London trading on Sept. 14 as rising energy prices and expectations of further U.S. interest-rate hikes pressured major currencies. The euro briefly fell to about $1.1523, its weakest level since mid-August, and traded at $1.1530-$1.1540 at 4:00 p.m. UK time, down $0.0080 from the same time a week earlier. Sterling reached roughly $1.3466, its lowest level in about five weeks, and traded at $1.3470-$1.3480, down $0.0050 from the prior week's close. Brent crude futures, the European benchmark, briefly climbed to the high $109-per-barrel range, almost 5% above the prior week's close, after Saudi Arabia disclosed on Sept. 11 that its East-West pipeline had come under attack. Dutch TTF natural gas futures also rose about 5%. The energy surge raised concerns about its impact on eurozone economic activity, while the market nearly fully priced a 22-basis-point increase at the Sept. 15 FOMC (Federal Reserve rate-setting committee) meeting after U.S. CPI data exceeded expectations. ING FX strategist Francesco Pesole said the dollar could continue rising gradually if the Federal Reserve maintains policy discipline, potentially restoring its relationship with Treasury yields and strengthening its safe-haven role. He said the DXY (U.S. dollar index) could return to 99.50-100. The pound's decline reflected broad dollar strength rather than UK-specific developments. The dollar also advanced against the yen, which weakened to near 155 per dollar. Markets are watching the Sept. 15 FOMC statement, Persian Gulf supply disruptions, Middle East shipping tensions, and the possibility of White House fiscal stimulus before the U.S. midterm elections. ING forecasts that a hawkish Fed stance and continuing crude disruptions could lift the DXY to 99.50-100.0, push the euro to $1.1500 and weigh further on sterling.