Dollar Gains Ground On Yen, Mark

The dollar hit a new 4-year high vs. the yen and 2-1/2-year high vs. the mark Thursday on news of record German joblessness and optimism that the Group of Seven weekend summit won’t halt the U.S. currency’s rally.

Newly released minutes of the Federal Reserve’s policy-making committee meeting in December also helped the dollar. Although the committee took no action to raise interest rates then or at a meeting this week, the minutes showed members were biased toward a rate increase, which would further bolster the dollar’s attractiveness.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency Canada .7413 1.3490 France .1794 5.5740 Germany .6059 1.6504 Great Britain 1.6359 .6113 Italy .000617 1622.00 Japan .008095 123.54 Mexico .127975 7.8140