The buck's latest surge comes as rising Treasury yields attract funds, and so-called 'U.S. exceptionalism' - a strong economy containing many of the world's biggest and most successful companies - encourages global investors to buy American assets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq headed in different directions at the close Wednesday after the Federal Reserve released minutes of its December meeting. Artificial intelligence giant Nvidia tested a key level in the wake of a huge drop.

Stocks finished sharply lower on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 falling more than 66 points, or 1.1%, amid a notable mover higher in Treasury yields that followed stronger-than-expecte