Dollar Slips in Asia After Bank of Japan Stays Pat
TOKYO: The dollar sank against the yen in Asia on Friday after the Bank of Japan held off new easing measures at its first policy meeting since this month's huge stimulus.
The dollar bought 98.73 yen in afternoon trade, from 99.29 yen in New York late Thursday, while the euro firmed to $1.3042 from $1.3009 but fell to 128.82 yen from 129.22 yen.
Wrapping up its latest meeting, the Bank of Japan said its policy board had voted unanimously against any new policy measures after earlier this month saying it would unleash a flood of easy money to stoke the limp economy.
A senior dealer at a major British bank said the dollar also suffered as exporters sold the unit ahead of a long weekend, adding that there was a risk it could fall further if US growth data comes in below expectations later in the day.
Investors were unmoved by official data showing Japan's consumer prices fell 0.5 percent year-on-year in March, which underlined the tough task ahead for the bank and the new government of Shinzo Abe.
