NEW YORK: The dollar and yen were slightly stronger against the euro.
The euro edged down after last week’s rally to US$1.1146 (RM4.01), and slipped to ¥133.92 (RM4.01), while the dollar was unchanged at ¥120.14.
Despite the quiet outward appearance there was still nervousness over Greece, with two large debt payments due to the IMF in the coming week and no deal yet on new financing with European Union creditors.
“We continue to see a 70 per cent probability that, possibly with quite some political noise in Athens in the meantime, Greece will strike a deal in the end and stay in the euro, with a 30 per cent risk of Grexit,” said Berenberg chief economist Holger Schmieding.
After Friday’s sharp tumble, the pound was steady against the dollar just three days ahead of Britain’s general election, with the two main parties neck-and-neck and unlikely to win a majority.
“Regardless of which party wins the election, a messy, drawn-out negotiation to form a ruling coalition is probable,” said Matt Weller at Forex.com.
“Traders are notorious for being a forward-looking and fickle bunch, perhaps explaining some of pound-dollar’s big selloff in the last 48 hours of last week trade.”
The Chinese yuan was barely higher against the dollar, trading around 6.2100 yuan, after a Wall Street Journal report that the International Monetary Fund considers the currency fairly valued, after years of judging it artificially held down.
