28.05.201722:46:00UTC+00Dollar Stable as Markets Digest North Korea Missile Test

The U.S. dollar was steady in early Asian trading, standing well above the previous week's 6-½ month lows as markets digest news of Pyongyang's latest missile test.

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile that landed in the seas off its east coast, according to South Korea's military.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback versus a basket of six major powers, was little changed at 97.432, quite far from the previous week's low of 96.797, its weakest since Nov 9.

The greenback inched down slightly to 111.23 yen but mostly held on to gains regardless of a cautious backdrop that often provides Japan's perceived safe-haven currency a boost.

U.S. markets are closed on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday, major currency pairs will likely remain afloat, with no incentive to take new positions.

The euro was stable on the day at $1.1173, after hitting a 6-½ month peak of $1.1268 the week earlier. Net long positioning on the common currency increased to its highest in over three years in the week through May 23, according to calculations by Reuters and data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Britain's pound inched up 0.1 percent to $1.2811 after touching a three-week low of $1.2775 on Friday in the aftermath of a poll showing a declining lead for the ruling Conservatives prior to the June 8 elections.

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