Dollar mostly lower on major world stock marts

TOKYO (Agencies): The U.S. dollar gained only fractionally on the Tokyo foreign exchange market yesterday with investors waiting for the release of U.S. trade figures.

It closed at 98.05 yen, up 0.08 yen from the previous day's finish of 97.97 yen here and higher than 97.65 yen quoted in New York late Monday.

After opening at 97.90 yen, the greenback moved between 97.78 yen and 98.18 yen here yesterday.

In Singapore, the U.S. dollar slipped to 1.5025 marks from 1.5040 marks on Monday, according to rates provided by Banque Nationale de Paris at 0900GMT. The dollar opened at 1.5030.

The greenback weakened to 5.1520 French francs and S$1.4725 but remained unchanged at 98.00 Japanese yen and HK$7.7270.

In London, the dollar was slightly lower in Europe in subdued trading yesterday, while the pound was boosted by a survey showing retail sales grew more strongly than expected in September.

The dollar was trading at 1.5030 German marks, virtually unchanged from its previous close, and at 98.03 Japanese yen, from the previous finish at 97.85.

In Frankfurt, the dollar opened at 1.5020 German marks, down from the previous close at 1.5036.

In Zurich, the dollar opened at 1.2505 Swiss francs, unchanged from the previous close.

In Paris, the dollar opened at 5.1560 French francs, down from 5.1615 at the previous close.

In Brussels, the dollar opened at 30.92 Belgian francs, up from the previous close at 30.90.

In Rome, the dollar opened at 1,537 lire, down from the previous close at 1,538.47 lire.

Gold opened higher yesterday in Hong Kong yesterday at $389.20-390.10 an ounce, against the previous day's closing rate of 388.90-389.30.