61. A stronger-than-expected report will fuel speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to cool down the economy and forestall inflation, traders said. 62. A report today showing that U.S. manufacturing is slowing, coupled with a small decline in U.S. stocks, knocked the dollar from its highs, traders said. 63. A sharp decline in the U.S. bond market, sparked by higher-than-expected January housing start numbers also weighed on the dollar, traders said. 64. A record soybean crop expected from Brazil, now being harvested, could make supplies more ample, traders said. 65. A report carried by Reuters that the Brazilian central bank had sought permission to buy back debt sparked late-afternoon buying, traders said. 66. A stronger-than-expected number would put pressure on the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates to head off inflation, traders said. 67. A single-digit increase probably would be taken as a signal to buy bonds, said a trader at Taiheiyo Securities Co. 68. A U.S. government employment report that showed slow job growth in November helped shore up U.S. securities and firm Brazilian share prices, trader said. 69. A weaker U.S. dollar against other major currencies also convinced investors to purchase Canadian dollars, traders said. 70. A weaker U.S. dollar against the German mark also hurt bonds, traders said. |