Asian session review: the dollar was little changed against the euro and the yen

During today's Asian trading, the US dollar was trading steadily against the euro and the yen. The ICE index, which tracks the dollar's performance against six currencies (the Euro, Swiss franc, yen, canadian dollar, pound sterling and Swedish Krona), fell 0.1%.

The day before, the US currency rose against the background of a new wave of growth in demand for assets of the "safe haven" in connection with data on an increase in the number of infections with coronavirus infection, including in the US. In addition, data on the us labor market released on Thursday indicated a more significant than expected number of new applications for unemployment benefits filed last week.

The government of Japan slightly improved its assessment of the situation in the economy, saying that the decline is close to the bottom point, as the economy is gradually opening up following the lifting of the state of emergency that was in effect in the country in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

The economy remains in an "extremely difficult situation," but the situation has "almost stopped getting worse," according to the monthly report of the Cabinet of Ministers published on Friday. The assessment of the situation in the economy has been improved by the Japanese government for the first time since January 2018.