The U.S. dollar gained ground against Taiwan's currency on Wednesday, a small negative for Taiwanese importers and buyers of dollar goods.

• The greenback rose to close near NT$31.73, up on the day.
• It opened at the session low and pushed higher through the trading day.
• Trading volume was moderate, with about US$2.9 billion changing hands.
• The move came as Taiwan's stock market fell sharply on a jump in oil prices tied to Middle East worries.

Outlook: If oil stays high and Middle East tension keeps investors nervous, the dollar likely holds its edge over the Taiwan dollar in the near term.