Dollar Gains Ground On Yen

The dollar rose nearly 2 yen Thursday on comments by two top Japanese finance officials, but the U.S. currency ended lower against the mark on signs of economic vitality in Germany.

Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka and Vice Minister Tadashi Ogawa both said they weren’t concerned about excessive mark weakness, and Mitsuzuka said interest rates won’t be rising in Japan for awhile.

The remarks were viewed by currency traders as further evidence that Japan wants the rapid appreciation of the yen that began two weeks ago to ease.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency

Canada .7288 1.3721

France .1754 5.7015

Germany .5905 1.6934

Great Britain 1.6234 .6160

Italy .000600 1667.25

Japan .008624 115.96

Mexico .127113 7.8670