U.S. Dollar Index Lower; Housing Starts Ease, Permits Rise

The March U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 100.65, down 0.51. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that housing starts fell 2.6 percent in January versus a rise of 11.3 percent in December. The agency data showed building permits rose 4.6 percent in January versus a rise of 1.3 percent in December.