Pound Hits 4-Year High Vs. Dollar

The pound hit another four-year high against the dollar, powered by fresh evidence of economic health in Britain.

The dollar retreated slightly against the yen on the diminished impact of a bank failure in Japan, which helped depress the yen Wednesday. But the dollar rose against the French franc on widespread weakness in that currency, and ended marginally higher against the mark.

Traders said the main story in foreign-exchange trading was the rise of the pound, which has gained more than 3 percent in value against the dollar in November.

Currency in Dollar in Exchange Dollars foreign currency

Canada .7467 1.3392 France .1966 5.0862 Germany .6676 1.4980 Great Britain 1.6873 .5927 Italy .000670 1493.50 Japan .008986 111.29 Mexico .127065 7.8700