Asian session: The dollar rose

02:00 China Leading Index April 0.0% +1.5%

The dollar maintained this week's gains versus all 16 major peers before data forecast to show improvement in the U.S. economy. The Conference Board's index of U.S. leading indicators probably rose 0.2 percent last month, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before the data today. The gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months fell 0.1 percent in March.

The greenback rose toward a six-week high against the euro before the Federal Reserve releases on May 22 minutes of its last meeting, when policy makers said they may alter the pace of monthly bond purchases. Fed Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said yesterday the central bank may begin to taper off buying as early as this summer.

Economists in a separate Bloomberg poll expect a preliminary reading on the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment today will rise to 77.9 this month from 76.4 in April.

The yen headed for a third weekly loss before the Bank of Japan meets next week. Industrial production increased 14.2 percent in March from the previous month, when it grew a revised 4.2 percent, the Cabinet Office said today. Economists in a Bloomberg survey expected a 3.5 percent expansion.

The Australian dollar dropped to its lowest level in more than 11 months before the nation's central bank releases minutes of its last policy meeting on May 21. Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens lowered borrowing costs to a record 2.75 percent this month and cut the inflation outlook, while reiterating a forecast for below-trend growth.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair fell to $ 1.2850

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair fell to $ 1.5235

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of Y102.05-35