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Gulf States May Dump the Dollar

Sinking greenback fuels inflation in booming Gulf economies

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Nov 20, 2007 2:31 PM CST

(Newser) – The flagging greenback is forcing oil-rich Gulf states to consider uncoupling their currencies from the US dollar to fight runaway inflation at home and the devaluation of their own currencies, the Wall Street Journal reports. Leaders are considering everything from an outright break to revaluing their own currencies to pegging them to several currencies, including the dollar.

While the Saudis say they’ll continue to peg the riyal to the dollar, they may revalue it to offset downward dollar pressure. Kuwait in May chose to use a basket of currencies as its yardstick. Its dinar has strengthened 5% against the dollar. Change is almost certain; experts say it could come as early as next month.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, meets with United Arab Emirates Central Bank Governor Nasser al-Suweidi, Friday, April 13,2007 at the Treasury Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, meets with United Arab Emirates Central Bank Governor Nasser al-Suweidi, Friday, April 13,2007 at the Treasury Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez...   (Associated Press)
Oil is pumped Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, from a well in front of a natural gas flame in the desert area of Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. Oil prices surged Thursday to more than US$88 a barrel, with analysts attributing the latest drive upward to the steadily weakening U....
Oil is pumped Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, from a well in front of a natural gas flame in the desert area of Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. Oil prices surged Thursday to more than US$88 a barrel,...   (Associated Press)
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, left, talks with an unidentified official during the closing ceremony of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday Nov. 18, 2007.(AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, left, talks with an unidentified official during the closing ceremony of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday Nov....   (Associated Press)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, meets with United Arab Emirates Central Bank Governor Nasser al-Suweidi, Friday, April 13, 2007,  at the Treasury Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, meets with United Arab Emirates Central Bank Governor Nasser al-Suweidi, Friday, April 13, 2007, at the Treasury Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez...   (Associated Press)
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