TOKYO: The dollar inched higher in Asia Friday after tumbling on comments from the head of the Federal Reserve who said the bank's massive stimulus drive would remain in place for some time.
In Tokyo afternoon trade, the dollar fetched 99.06 yen, slightly up from 98.90 yen in New York on Thursday, while the euro also strengthened to 129.56 yen from 129.50 yen.
The European single currency was at $1.3077 from $1.3092, as traders keep an eye on eurozone industrial production data for May due later in the day.
The dollar faced selling pressure in New York after Bernanke said the Fed's $85 billion-a-month bond-buying programme would be kept in place "for the foreseeable future".
"The majority of FOMC members want more evidence of improving labour market conditions and stronger growth before curtailing the asset purchase programme," Credit Agricole said in a note.
However it added that "we maintain our view that the FOMC is likely to begin reducing its asset purchases at the September meeting".
The dollar's rise on Friday came as Japanese importers boosted their dollar buying, dealers said.
On Thursday, the Bank of Japan decided to leave its own monetary easing programme -- a huge bond-buying scheme unveiled in April -- unchanged, saying the situation for the world's number three economy was looking up.
The Japanese unit has tumbled since late last year when the idea of huge monetary easing by the central bank was flagged, helping the country's exporters.
The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.
It firmed to 59.89 rupees from 59.53 rupees Thursday, to Tw$29.88 from Tw$29.84, to 31.11 Thai baht from 31.05 baht, to 43.35 Philippine pesos from 43.20 pesos and to 9,988 Indonesian rupiah from 9,983 rupiah.
The greenback slipped to Sg$1.2606 from Sg$1.2612, and to 1,120.35 South Korean won from 1,123.44 won.
The Australian dollar fell to 91.81 US cents from 92.86 cents, while the Chinese yuan changed hands at 16.11 yen compared with 16.05 yen.
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