The Dollar Stays Weak after Comments by Federal Reserve Head

The dollar remained at the low end of its recent range Monday as foreign exchange traders remained cautious despite somewhat hawkish weekend remarks by Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer.

At 2100 GMT, the dollar was virtually unchanged from late Friday at $1.1322 per euro and 100.32 yen, despite a surge during the day.

Analysts said markets would likely move sideways ahead of the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole, Wyoming central banking symposium that will be capped by a speech from Fed Chair Janet Yellen on Friday.

Markets are looking for signals on how slow or fast the Fed will move toward increasing interest rates, with Fed policymakers split in recent months over the U.S. economy's strength and the prospects for strong inflation.

Fischer, whose views are usually in line with Yellen's, said Sunday that the Fed was close to its policy targets on unemployment and inflation, and that he expects U.S. growth to pick up in the coming quarters.

Recent statements by Fed officials "appeared to hint that the central bank was closing ranks behind a single message favoring the resumption of stimulus withdrawal," said Ilya Spivak of DailyFX.

2100 GMT Monday Friday

EUR/USD 1.1322 1.1324

EUR/JPY 113.58 113.46

EUR/CHF 1.0891 1.0873

EUR/GBP 0.8619 0.8657

USD/JPY 100.32 100.20

USD/CHF 0.9617 0.9602

GBP/USD 1.3137 1.3080