Dollar sinks further

TOKYO: The dollar sank further in Asia on Friday as another round of disappointing US data cast further doubt on the chances of a mid-year Federal Reserve interest rate hike.
The greenback was changing hands at 119.00 yen in midday Tokyo trading, slightly down from 119.04 yen in New York and well off the 119.33 yen in Tokyo earlier Thursday.
The euro strengthened to $1.0773 and 128.20 yen against $1.0761 and 128.10 yen in US trade, as investors watch the slow progress in Greece´s bailout talks with its international creditors.
On Thursday, fresh US data showed housing starts rose less than expected in March, while initial jobless claims, a sign of the pace of layoffs, increased well above estimates to their highest level in six weeks.
The tepid figures came a day after figures showed US industrial production fell in March twice as much as expected, while the New York Fed said its Empire State index on manufacturing activity plunged into negative territory in April for the first time since December.