LONDON- SPA The dollar jumped to three-month highs on Monday, extending its recent run of gains as expectations of a U.S. rate rise gathered pace, while gold prices plunged to their lowest in more than five years, Reuters reported. The greenback posted its best weekly performance in about two months last week, after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterated that U.S. interest rates will probably rise later in the year. Data on Friday showing a robust pick up in U.S. consumer prices and housing starts also helped the rally. The strength of the dollar weighed on gold, which plunged as much as 4 percent, while platinum fell as much as 5 percent to its lowest since February 2009. The dollar hit its highest since April 23 against a basket of major currencies before pulling back slightly to trade flat on the day. The euro hit its lowest since late April but last traded up 0.2 percent at $1.0853. The yen was flat at 124.09 to the dollar. Spot gold last traded at $1,116.23 an ounce, having fallen as far as $1,088.05, its weakest since March 2010. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 equity index rose 0.4 percent. Amsterdam-listed chemicals company OCI rose 11 percent on merger talk
