August 27, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 2, 1427

NEW YORK, Aug 26: The yen neared a historic low against the euro and also slipped against the dollar on Friday after weak Japanese consumer inflation data, traders said. The dollar held stable against Europe's common currency after a speech by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke failed to provide any clues about the direction of US interest rates.

But it jumped to 149.55 yen from 148.68 late on Thursday. The currency has never breached the 150 level against the yen in its seven-year history.

Japan said Friday its core consumer prices rose by just 0.2pc in July and revised down figures for previous months, raising doubts about prospects of another interest rate hike this year.—AFP