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Currency Center

Dollar gains on euro

Uncertainty about both the economic recovery and corporate earnings give the greenback a boost.

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NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The yen and dollar rose broadly Tuesday as uncertainty about the global economic outlook and forthcoming U.S. corporate earnings increased the safe-haven appeal of both currencies.

The pound fell as weak industrial output data reinforced doubts about a UK recovery, and the euro retreated, approaching $1.39 after having climbed above $1.40 following data showing a surprise increase in German factory orders.

When risk aversion rises, investors often cut holdings of stocks and higher-yield currencies and buy back the yen and dollars that were used to finance the trades.

"We've been getting very mixed signals, with some positive data and some very poor data, so it's extremely difficult to pinpoint direction," said Fabian Eliasson, vice president of currency sales at Mizuho Corporate Bank in New York.

"As a result, people are backing out of high-yield assets and into the yen and dollar. Now, the focus will turn to corporate earnings as the main driver for the market."

The dollar fell 0.6% at 94.72 yen while the euro fell 1.1% to 131.81 yen and 0.4% to $1.3914, according to Reuters data.

The pound shed 0.9% to $1.6119 as data showed UK manufacturing output fell 0.5% in May, confounding expectations for a rise.

"The risk is clearly that the 'green shoots' are turning dry," said Michael Klawitter, senior currency strategist at Dresdner Kleinwort in Frankfurt.

Earnings, G8

The Australian dollar was down 1% at $0.7895 after the Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates at a record low 3 % on Tuesday and left the door open to more cuts.

Traders are bracing for second-quarter U.S. corporate earnings, which will be released in coming weeks. Analysts said poor results, especially from financial institutions, would likely crank up dollar demand.

"If bank earnings disappoint in any way or the S&P breaks crucial levels, traders will probably start reducing long positions in (high-risk currencies) and the dollar could be bid more," said Chris Turner, currency strategist at ING in London.

Analysts were also keeping an eye on this week's Group of Eight leaders summit that starts in Italy on Wednesday.

China, Russia and Brazil have said they will push their view that the world needs to start seeking a new global reserve currency as an alternative to the dollar, though they admitted such a shift would take time.

A draft of the communique obtained by Reuters made no reference to the issue.

President Barack Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not discuss oil prices or the dollar in talks in Moscow Tuesday, according to a U.S. official. To top of page

Track 17 major currencies

Features
Markets Last Change
Dow Jones 10,477.17 63.03 / 0.61%
Nasdaq 2,252.19 14.53 / 0.65%
S&P 500 1,119.94 5.89 / 0.53%
10-year Bond 96 29/32 Yield: 3.74%
U.S.Dollar 1 euro = $1.427 -0.000
December 22, 2009 10:29 AM ET
CompanyPrice% Change
YRC Worldwide Inc 1.06 19.11%
UAL Corp 12.51 8.59%
Commercial Metals Co 15.85 -7.69%
US Airways Group Inc 4.90 6.52%
Dec 22 10:23am ET †
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