Dollar Gains On Leading Currencies

Further signs of an improving U.S. economy helped lift the dollar against leading currencies Wednesday in trading thinned by holidays in much of the world.

The dollar’s rise against the German mark and Japanese yen was aided by a strong performance in the U.S. Treasury bond market.

May Day holidays in continental Europe and Mexico and a vacation break in Japan kept trading thin.

As of 4 p.m. in New York, the dollar stood at 105.32 yen, up from 105.13 yen Tuesday, and 1.5363 marks, up from 1.5310.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency Canada .7348 1.3610 France .1928 5.1855 Germany .6509 1.5363 Great Britain 1.4915 .6705 Italy .000639 1564.35 Japan .009495 105.32 Mexico .134953 7.4100