Dollar Off Slightly

The dollar broke ranks with the rising U.S. stock and bond markets to end slightly weaker Monday, reflecting reluctance by traders to push the American currency much higher without clearer signals of a trend.

Foreign-exchange dealings were light, partly because of a holiday in Japan and an absence of significant economic news. Most action focused on weakness in the German mark against other European currencies, notably the French franc, as traders awaited release of France’s 1997 budget Wednesday.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency Canada .7298 1.3703 France .1946 5.1381 Germany .6623 1.5100 Great Britain 1.5580 .6418 Italy .000655 1526.50 Japan .009083 110.10 Mexico .133191 7.5080