LONDON, 4 May 2006 — The dollar was little changed against major rivals yesterday, with investors eagerly awaiting Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech later in the session for hints about the Fed’s plans on future interest rate increases.

The single European currency in late-day trade was at 1.2640 dollars after 1.2618 late Tuesday in New York. The dollar was meanwhile trading at 113.38 yen against 113.31 on Tuesday.

The euro was changing hands at 1.2640 dollars against 1.2618 late on Tuesday, 143.34 yen (143.03), 0.6852 pounds (0.6856) and 1.5604 Swiss francs (1.5609).

The dollar stood at 113.38 yen (113.31) and 1.2345 Swiss francs (1.2369).

On the London Bullion Market, the price of an ounce of gold rose to $673.60 per ounce from $661 late on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, European stock markets fell yesterday. The London FTSE 100 index shed 1.19 percent to close at 6,010 points, in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.90 percent to 5,193.94 while in Frankfurt the DAX gave up 1.36 percent to finish below the 6,000-points level at 5,968.96 points. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading euro zone shares fell 1.04 percent to 3,821.97 points.

Elsewhere in Europe, there were losses of 0.16 percent to 3,928.09 on the Bel 20 in Brussels, 1.17 percent to 464.64 on the AEX in Amsterdam, 0.44 percent to 11.876.5 on the Ibex-35 in Madrid, 0.69 percent to 37,910 on the SP Mib in Milan and 1.36 percent on the Swiss Market Index.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 33.14 points, or 0.29 percent, at 11,383.31. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 5.15 points, or 0.39 percent, at 1,308.06. The NASDAQ Composite Index was down 4.91 points, or 0.21 percent, at 2,304.93.

Asian stocks closed mostly higher yesterday. In Seoul, the KOSPI index closed up 0.27 points at 1,435.17. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 158.94 points to 17,026.98. In Sydney, the S and P ASX 200 index climbed 0.4 points to 5,273.5.

In Bombay, the 30-share Sensex index rose 91.94 points or 0.75 percent to 12,310.72.

World oil prices fell strongly yesterday after data showing US inventories of crude oil and motor fuel helped ease concerns over energy supplies.

The price of London’s Brent North Sea crude for June delivery dropped $1 to $73.64 per barrel in electronic deals. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, shed $1.21 to $73.40 per barrel in pit trading.

The Department of Energy said that US crude oil reserves rose by 1.7 million barrels to 346.7 million barrels in the week to April 28. Analysts had expected a fall of 150,000 barrels. Gasoline, or petrol, reserves, which are in focus ahead of the US summer peak driving season, rose 2.1 million barrels to 202.7 million barrels. Markets had bet on a fall of 650,000 barrels.