The quest for the safety of the dollar and the yen dominated on Monday, bringing the dollar near its strongest levels in months, as investor confidence in growth was shaken by the spread of the mutated delta strain of the Corona virus, and many worried about the resumption of activities in England.

The risk-sensitive Australian dollar came under the greatest pressure among the major currencies in the Asian session, as it fell to a seven-month low of $0.7373 and slipped for the fifth consecutive day against the yen, hitting a five-month low.

The yen was last up 0.1 percent at 109.25 per dollar and approached its strongest since April at 129.78 per euro.

The euro remained at $1.1805, close to a three-month low hit last week at $1.1772.

The dollar index rose slightly to 92.717, bringing it very close to last week's three-month high of 92.832.

The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since April, crossing its 200-day moving average as oil prices fell.

The pound sterling recorded $1.3754, its lowest level in more than a week.

Cryptocurrencies stabilized during the Asian trading session, but remained stuck at just over strong support levels. Bitcoin settled in the latest trading at 31,702 dollars, and settled at 1897 dollars.