LONDON, 13 July 2004 — The dollar climbed a bit from recent lows against major currencies yesterday ahead of key US trade and inflation data this week. The single European currency stood at 1.2410 dollars against 1.2414 late on Friday in New York. The dollar edged up to 108.27 yen from 108.20 on Friday.
The euro was changing hands at 1.2410 dollars from 1.2414 late on Friday in New York, 134.38 yen (134.32), 0.6660 pounds (0.6677) and 1.5184 Swiss francs (1.5182). The dollar stood at 108.27 yen (108.20) and 1.2237 Swiss francs (1.2229).
Meanwhile, European stock markets started the week by slipping lower yesterday, with the London FTSE 100 index easing 0.76 percent to close at 4,360 points. In Paris the CAC 40 lost 0.46 percent to 3,651.63 points while in Frankfurt the DAX shed 0.80 percent to finish at 3,893.24 points.
Elsewhere in Europe, Milan’s Mib 30 eased 0.28 percent to 5,532.7 points, Amsterdam’s AEX fell 0.72 percent to 333.53, Brussels’ Bel-20 lost 0.37 percent 2,447.27 and the SMI index of Swiss shares shed 0.28 percent to 5,532.7. But Madrid’s Ibex-35 added 0.08 percent to 8,053.6.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 38.34 points, or 0.38 percent, to 10,174.29. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 4.43 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,108.38.
Asian stock markets closed mostly weaker yesterday. The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index gained 158.75 points to 11,582.28. In Seoul, the composite index closed down 1.19 points or 0.16 percent at 746.27, off a high of 757.90 and a low of 740.98.
In Hong Kong, the key Hang Seng Index closed down 11.25 points or 0.09 percent at 12,191.01, off a low of 12,170.17 and high of 12,267.91. In Sydney, All Ordinaries index fell 4.9 points to 3,554.0. In Singapore, the Straits Times Index finished 8.86 points higher, while the broader All Singapore Equities index climbed 1.49 points at 1,870.89.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite index closed down 2.93 points at 851.13.