Dollar Ends Mixed

The dollar reached a new 3-1/2-year high against the mark but fell to end mixed Wednesday, pressured by a wider Japanese trade surplus and an anticipated rise in British interest rates.

The Bank of England was widely expected to raise its base lending rate from 6.50 percent to 6.75 percent and possibly 7 percent at its policymaking meeting Thursday to thwart inflationary pressure in Britain, where the economy has been expanding at a vibrant pace.

Some traders bet on an even bigger increase after the Financial Times suggested in an editorial Wednesday that “a full percentage point jump might be better.”

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency

Canada .7282 1.3732

France .1683 5.9430

Germany .5682 1.7599

Great Britain 1.6880 .5924

Italy .000582 1717.25

Japan .008868 112.77

Mexico .126968 7.8760