Reduced Trade Gap Boosts Dollar

The dollar rose against most major currencies Wednesday on the strength of improved trade numbers with Japan and a newspaper report that the German government was about to report higher unemployment figures.

The dollar’s rise against the Japanese yen came on the back of U.S. figures that showed the trade deficit with Japan dropped in November to its lowest level since May 1993.

The dollar was trading at 1.4770 marks, compared with 1.4710 on Tuesday. It finished at 106.10 yen, compared with 105.20 the day before.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency

Canada .7315 1.3670

France .1971 5.0735

Germany .6770 1.4770

Great Britain 1.5368 .6507

Italy .000634 1577.00

Japan .009425 106.10

Mexico .134381 7.4450