The yen gained against the dollar and higher-yielding currencies on Tuesday as concerns about credit turmoil and escalating tensions in the money market prompted investors to cut back risky positions.
Liquidity in some credit markets is now at its tightest in years, as banks' risk aversion and reluctance to lend is exacerbated by a seasonal lack of liquidity due to high demand for cash to cover the year-end period. On Tuesday, one-month interbank lending rates in the euro (Euribor) rose to near 7-year highs on Tuesday, while one-month sterling London interbank rates (Libor) fixed at a 9-year high.
Credit worries also weighed on financial stocks, contributing to a 1-percent fall in the FTSEurofirst equity index and adding to the risk averse mood in the market.
"We are getting into the period now when liquidity is very much at a premium and the news flow on the turmoil in the credit market does not seem to be abating. Within that context the market still remains very nervous about the potential for further bad news out there," said Kamal Sharma, currency strategist at Bank of America.
By 1145 GMT, the dollar was down 0.7 percent at 109.65 yen while the euro was down 0.4 percent at 161.30 yen. The high-yielding Australian dollar fell 0.6 percent to US $0.8748 and dropped 1 percent to 96.26 yen. The euro was up 0.3 percent at $1.4711, with traders saying the move higher was accentuated by the break through key stop-loss levels.
Euro zone data on Tuesday showed producer price inflation rising more than expected in November, suggesting that the European Central Bank is likely to stress price pressures at the news conference after Thursday's rate decision. It is widely expected to leave rates on hold this week at 4.00 percent.
The Canadian dollar was down versus the US currency ahead of a Bank of Canada rate decision, where some analysts are expecting a rate cut. A rate cut is also seen as a possibility in Britain, where the decision will be announced on Thursday. The euro rose nearly half a percent to 71.30 pence.
A key report investors are watching for is Friday's US payrolls data, which is expected to show employers added 75,000 jobs in November. Markets are fully pricing in a Fed policy easing of 25 basis points next week, with some expectations rising for a 50 bps reduction in rates from 4.5 percent. The dollar failed to benefit after a summit of Gulf rulers ended on Tuesday with no mention of the dollar's weakness or foreign exchange policy in the final communiqué.