TOKYO: The dollar slipped in Asia Monday following mixed US data and simmering geopolitical concerns, while the Indian rupee sat close to one-year highs after the pro-business opposition won the country´s general election.
In afternoon Tokyo trading, the greenback fetched 101.43 yen, against 101.54 yen in New York Friday afternoon.
The euro rose to $1.3700 from $1.3695 while changing hands at 138.98 yen against 139.08 yen.
The greenback was also worth 58.40 rupees — levels not seen since June — after falling more than one percent on Friday as Narendra Modi´s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to power at the end of a marathon election.
The prime minister-elect summoned senior figures from the Hindu nationalist party on Sunday for talks on forming a new government, which won a strong mandate on promises to introduce reforms to turn around the economy.
Investors were skittish over the simmering Ukraine crisis and growing anti-Chinese unrest in Vietnam, while data out of the United States gave a mixed picture on the world´s number one economy.
That boosted buying of the yen, seen as a safe haven during times of uncertainty or turmoil.
“The yen has been in demand, mainly due to unstable risk sentiment and falling expectations of the Bank of Japan considering a more aggressive monetary policy stance anytime soon,” Credit Agricole said.