Dollar Rallies, Then Pulls Back

The dollar retreated late Wednesday to end mixed after surging on Japan’s widening financial scandal, Japanese economic weakness, a tax-reform deadlock in Germany and possible Swiss bank liability for Holocaust victim claims.

The combination of news reinforced the dollar’s allure as a stable currency supported by a healthy U.S. economy and pushed it to an 11-week high against the yen in intraday dealings, as well as a 4-year intraday high vs. the Swiss franc.

But the dollar retreated later from selling by traders worried about the velocity of its ascent.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency Canada .7241 1.3810 France .1615 6.1928 Germany .5444 1.8370 Great Britain 1.6287 .6140 Italy .000559 1789.50 Japan .008434 118.57 Mexico .128452 7.7850