The dollar slipped on Monday, succumbing to profit-taking after last week's sharp rally as traders became cautious ahead of US trade data due on Wednesday. "We're seeing basically a bit of profit-taking on the dollar's sharp up-moves last week," said Omer Esiner, market analyst at Ruesch International in Washington D.C. "I think we're also seeing some position-squaring ahead of Wednesday's key trade balance report. If we do see a disappointing number on Wednesday, that could shift the market's focus back to structural deficits in the United States, which are a dollar-negative theme," he added.
Economists expect the US trade balance to show a deficit of $54.0 billion in November, according to a Reuters poll, just off the record $55.46 billion shortfall recorded in October.
The United State's trade and budget deficits have been among the key factors behind the dollar's three-year decline, and most analysts believe the US currency still has further to fall to correct these imbalances.
By late afternoon trade in New York, the euro rose to $1.3080, up about 0.2 percent from levels late on Friday.
The dollar slipped against the Japanese yen, to 104.28 yen, down nearly 0.5 percent. Against the Swiss franc, the dollar fell to 1.1818 francs. Sterling rose 0.3 percent to $1.8752.
The dollar barely flinched after US Treasury Secretary John Snow affirmed the administration's strong dollar policy on Monday, but failed to mention, as he has in recent statements, that markets should set exchange rates.
"Affirming the strong dollar policy is almost meaningless," said T.J. Marta, senior currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets in New York.
"But what was not said is interesting. People don't omit things that are part of their mantra - such as markets setting exchange rates - for no reason. But so far, no market move," he added.
Earlier, dollar bulls were cheered by Snow's comments on Friday in a series of television and radio interviews saying the United States wanted to "do things," including cutting its budget deficit, to support the currency's strength.
This raised talk that US President George W. Bush could introduce substantial cuts in the 2006 budget and diminish a key negative for the long-suffering US currency, which hit seven-week highs against the euro, Swiss franc and British pound on Friday.
The dollar also showed little reaction as two Federal Reserve officials on Monday stressed the need to correct the US budget and current account deficits.
Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Jack Guynn said the size of the US deficits is a problem and the country cannot continue to rely on foreigners for funding.
Earlier, Federal Governor Edward Gramlich said US trading partners will need to do more to spur their own demand to take up the slack in the global economy if the United States shifts policy to encourage less consumption and more savings.
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