(Updates prices, adds comments; changes byline, dateline, pvs LONDON)
* Dollar index slips to lowest since mid-November
* Fed disappoints hawks hoping for March rate increase
* Trump comments on Iran, Australia weigh on dollar
* Aussie rallies as trade surplus beats estimates
By Sam Forgione
NEW YORK, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar fell to its lowest since mid-November against a basket of major rivals on Thursday in the wake of a Federal Reserve policy statement that disappointed investors hoping for clearer signs on rate hikes, while rhetoric from U.S. President Trump unnerved traders.
Money markets had shown a 20 percent chance of a rise in U.S. rates next month but that slipped to as little as 15 percent despite the Fed sending a broadly upbeat message on the economy. language from Trump on Iran and a refugee deal with Australia also put the focus back on the geopolitical risks from his administration rather than the expectations of higher inflation that dominated markets' initial thinking last year.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, slumped to its lowest since Nov. 14 at 99.233 .DXY in morning trade in Europe. The euro hit an eight-week high against the dollar of $1.0828 EUR= , while the dollar slumped as much as 1 percent against the yen to 112.06 yen.
That put the dollar near Tuesday's two-month trough against the Japanese currency of 112.04 yen.
"Yesterday's FOMC statement wasn't overtly hawkish as some had speculated, no obvious signals that March is a live meeting," said Richard Franulovich, a senior currency strategist at Westpac Banking Corp in New York.
"You have the broader story around Trump's incessant combative approach to international relations, and very little news on pro-growth, pro-business stuff like taxes and infrastructure," he added. "That is hurting the dollar because it's triggering people to pare back their reflation bets on the U.S."
Trump said in a tweet on Thursday that "Iran has been put formally put on notice" for firing a ballistic missile and labelled a refugee swap deal with Australia "dumb." dollar index has fallen steadily since Jan. 3 .DXY , although traders stressed it was not obvious it would fall much further ahead of monthly U.S. jobs numbers on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters expect U.S. employers to have added 175,000 jobs in January, up from 156,000 in December.
The Australian dollar AUD=D4 rose as much as 1.5 percent against the dollar to its highest since Nov. 10 of $0.7696, driven by a recovery in exports in the fourth quarter that sent its current account surplus soaring to a record high and headed off any thoughts of a dip into recession.