The U.S. dollar ended lower Friday in spotty trading against major foreign currencies as dealings wound down for the year.
Traders said the dollar eased despite some fresh signs of a mixed picture on the economy.The Chicago Purchasing Managers December index was reported at 67.5 percent, little changed from November's 67.4 percent.
The group's much-watched Prices Paid Index also showed little movement, registering a slight decline to 79.2 percent in December from 79.4 percent in November.
Separately, trades said, data on new homes sales in the United States showed that sales were down 2.5 percent in November, slightly weaker than most market expectations.
In late New York trading Friday, the dollar eased to 1.5495 German marks from 1.5525 marks Thursday and rose to 99.73 Japanese yen from 99.65 yen.
The value of the British pound rose to $1.5665 from $1.5595, while the value of the U.S. dollar fell against its Canadian neighbor to $1. 4019 from $1.4088.
Currency traders quoted Mexico's new peso at 5.0750 new pesos against 4.8750 pesos Thursday.
Against other European currencies, the dollar fell to 1.3087 Swiss francs from 1.3120, to 5.3370 French francs from 5.3640 and to 1,621.00 Italian lire from 1,626.00.
In Europe, the dollar eased in Frankfurt to 1.5488 German marks from 1.5520 marks Thursday.
The dollar retreated in Zurich to 1.3085 Swiss francs from 1.3130. In Paris, the dollar slipped to 5.3460 French francs from 5.3765.
The dollar eased slightly in Brussels to 31.85 Belgian francs from 31.89 but ended unchanged in Rome at 1,629.74 Italian lire.
In London, the British pound firmed to $1.5645 from $1.5595 Thursday.
In Asia, the dollar eased in Tokyo to 99.83 Japanese yen from 99.93 yen Thursday.
Most participating Tokyo traders stayed on the sidelines without particular market moving news ahead of the year's end and the oncoming new year holidays.
The dollar climbed up to the higher end of the 99-yen level at one point, but generally lacked enough strength to go above the psychological 100-yen level.
The greenback failed to finish the year over 100 yen, following the dollar's overnight drop in New York. Many players early this week expected the U.S. currency to stay above the 100-yen level for the week.
The Tokyo Foreign Exchange will be closed Monday and Tuesday because of national holidays. Trading will resume Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Asia, the dollar slipped in Singapore to 1.4590 Singapore dollars from 1.4610 and eased in Hong Kong to 7.7375 Hong Kong dollars from 7.7390.
In precious-metals trading, Republic Bank of New York said the cash price for gold rose by 30 cents to $382.80 an ounce. On the Commodity Exchange Inc., a 100-troy-ounce gold futures contract for Jan. delivery rose by 40 cents to $383.10 an ounce.
Republic Bank said cash silver ended unchanged at $4.89 an ounce.