81.   The dollar edged higher as investors bought German marks for yen.

82.   The currency also was indirectly supported by selling of yen to buy German marks, Kawamoto said.

83.   The dollar gained on cross trading in which traders bought German marks and sold yen, thus boosting the U.S. currency.

84.   The news sent traders scrambling to buy marks, which hurt the dollar.

85.   To make that switch, traders bought dollars for yen, and then sold the dollars to buy marks.

86.   Traders said Japanese investors also aggressively bought German marks for yen, which indirectly bolstered the dollar against the Japanese currency.

87.   Traders said it was supported by Japanese institutional investors who sold yen to buy German marks.

88.   While some traders sold lire and bought marks, others moved into Swiss bonds and francs.

89.   In banks, buying marks with dinars is not permitted, although the operation in reverse is authorized.

90.   But a dealer said investors were likely to sell the dollar and buy the mark in European trading.