December 13, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1427

LONDON, Dec 12: The dollar crept up on the euro here on Tuesday following news of a pronounced improvement in the US trade deficit in October.

The single European currency in late-day trade was at $1.3230 after $1.3236 late Monday in New York. The dollar was meanwhile trading at 117.14 yen against 116.97 on Monday.

Data released by the Commerce Department in Washington caused the euro to dip just below the $1.3220-mark.

But investors remained wary ahead of a decision on US interest rates later on Tuesday by the Federal Reserve.

The Fed was fully expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent and attention would therefore centre on the accompanying statement for clues on the rate outlook for next year.—AFP