AFP, Tokyo :
The dollar rose against the yen and euro in Asia Wednesday, boosted by upbeat sentiment, but it is still sitting around more than five-and-a-half-year lows against the pound after a strong set of British manufacturing figures.
In afternoon Tokyo trading, the greenback strengthened to 101.60 yen from 101.53 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon as investor appetite for higher risk assets picked up.
The euro bought $1.3673 and 138.92 yen against $1.3677 and 138.88 yen ahead of a European Central Bank (ECB) meeting on Thursday.
The pound bought $1.7146 in Tokyo after hitting $1.7166 late Tuesday, the highest level since October 2008.
Currency dealers have been moving into the pound in recent weeks after the head of the Bank of England suggested interest rates could rise sooner than initially thought as the economy picks up pace.
“Markets started the third quarter in strong fashion, as global manufacturing data provided more evidence supporting the story of improving Chinese momentum and healthy US growth,” Credit Agricole said.
Chinese manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace this year in June, indicating that Beijing’s attempts to tackle slowing growth in the world’s number two economy are gaining traction.
In the US, the Institute for Supply Management’s closely watched purchasing managers index of manufacturing activity dipped 0.1 point to 55.3 in June. However, it is still the second-highest of 2014, after May’s 55.4 peak.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
Investors are now waiting for the release of US employment data and a speech by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen, Credit Agricole said, although it added that she “will unlikely deviate from her recent dovish tone significantly”.
