The dollar index (DXY00) this morning is up by +0.23% at a 2-1/2 week high. Weakness in the yen is positive for the dollar as the yen tumbled to a new 4-month low today. Short covering is also boosting the dollar ahead of today’s FOMC meeting results and comments from Fed Chair Powell. A decline in T-note yields is limiting the dollar’s advance. US weekly MBA mortgage applications fell -1.6% in the week ended March 15. The purchase mortgage sub-index fell -1.2%, and the refinancing sub-index fell -2.5%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +13 bp to 6.97% from 6.84% in the prior week. …