Dollar slips vs yen dented by doubts over US policy agenda

Reuters

By Masayuki Kitano

SINGAPORE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The dollar edged lower versus the yen on Friday, hampered by renewed investor concerns over the Trump administration's ability to push forward its economic policy agenda.

News of a deadly attack in Barcelona and speculation on Thursday over the possible departure of White House Economic Adviser Gary Cohn rattled markets, sparking a selloff in U.S. equities and stirring demand for safe haven bonds.

"It's a pure risk-off trade," said Tareck Horchani, head of Asia-Pacific sales trading for Saxo Markets in Singapore.

Asian markets are playing catch-up to the moves seen in U.S. markets on Thursday, Horchani said, adding that the risk-averse sentiment could prove short-lived, given the news that Cohn will stay in his post.

The dollar fell 0.2 percent to 109.41 yen, adding to its 0.6 percent drop on Thursday.

The greenback has pulled away from a peak of 110.95 yen touched earlier in the week, its strongest level in more than a week.

The euro held steady at $1.1724, but was down 0.8 percent for the week.

The euro had tumbled to a three-week low of $1.1662 on Thursday, after the minutes of the European Central Bank'sJuly 20 policy meeting showed policymakers were worried that the repricing of the currency could overshoot.

Even with its losses this week, the euro is still up more than 11 percent so far this year.

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