TOKYO: The dollar held steady in Asia on Wednesday as investors awaited the end of a two-day US Federal Reserve policy meeting later in the day.
In Tokyo afternoon trading, the greenback fetched 102.26 yen, against 102.13 yen late in New York and well up from the 102 yen in Tokyo earlier Tuesday.
The euro bought $1.3545 and 138.50 yen, against $1.3546 and 138.35 yen.
The Fed's two-day meeting is expected to wrap up with policymakers keeping interest rates at record lows and announcing a further cut to the bank's stimulus programme.
Bank policymakers will keep in mind data on Tuesday showing US interest rates in May jumping to their highest level since October 2012, which gave a fillip to the greenback in New York.
However, the focus will be on its outlook for the economy and clues about future policy direction, with speculation growing that rates will go up next year.
"The policy rate should be unchanged, with all forecasters showing a continued taper (in stimulus bond-buying) of $10 billion this month," National Australia Bank said.
But little change in the Fed's economic projections "would be disappointing to markets, and we should see yields lower and the US dollar lower," it said in a note.
There was little movement in currency rates after official Japanese figures showed the country's trade deficit narrowed last month as imports turned down for the first time in a year and a half.
The dollar was stronger against most other Asia-Pacific units, rising to Sg$1.2537 from Sg$1.2527 on Tuesday, to 1,023.08 South Korean won from 1,022.55 won and to 43.99 Philippine pesos from 43.96 pesos.
It also strengthened to 11,994.00 Indonesian rupiah from 11,872.80 rupiah, and to 32.54 Thai baht from 32.45 baht.
It fell to 60.13 Indian rupees from 60.38 rupees, while it was flat at Tw$30.02.
The Australian dollar weakened to 93.35 US cents from 93.59 cents, while the Chinese yuan changed hands at 16.42 yen against 16.36 yen.
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