The U.S. dollar traded mixed against major currencies in late New York trading on Monday as investors feared a double-dip recession and hoped for a further monetary easing policy by the Federal Reserve.
Economic activities were still weak in July. The national activity index released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago improved to -0.06 from an upwardly revised -0.38 in June. A negative index reading corresponds to a growth below historical trend.
Top central bank officials from around the world are set to gather in Jackson Hole this week for an annual conference. It is highly expected that Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman, might announce further monetary easing measures during the conference amid double-dip recession concerns.
In late Monday trading, the dollar bought 76.72 yen, comparing with 76.48 yen late Friday, and the euro fell to 1.4373 dollars from 1.4387.
The British pound rose to 1.6484 dollars from 1.6482. The dollar rose from 0.7879 Swiss francs to 0.7903, but fell to 0.9893 Canadian dollars from 0.9896.
