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TOKYO, Oct 26 (AFP): The dollar was firmer against other major currencies in Asian trade today after stumbling on soft US consumer confidence data that contrasted with a brightening picture in the eurozone, dealers said.
The dollar rose to 115.10 yen in afternoon trade in Tokyo from 115.01 yen late Tuesday in New York.
The euro dipped to 1.2093 dollars from 1.2104 and was flat at 139.20 yen.
"US and Germany showed contrasting economic indicators," noted Yoshihiro Nomura, forex team manager at Trust and Custody Services Bank.
Meanwhile the Ifo index of business confidence in the eurozone's largest economy, Germany, came in significantly above expectations, while German consumer price index (CPI) inflation data was also slightly above forecasts.
The Ifo Institute's business climate index rose to 98.7 in October from 96.0 in September, well above expectations of a very slim rise to 96.1.
The dollar's downside was also being limited by strong buying by Japanese retail investors seeking to invest in high- yielding foreign currency-denominated assets, dealers noted.
Meanwhile, Japan reported a 21-per cent fall in its trade surplus in September as the cost of energy imports soared although export growth remained strong.
The market reaction to the trade data was limited and dealers appeared to be waiting instead for fresh leads from a slew of US economic indicators later this week, including an estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product.
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