1.   Also hurting the dollar was the election of opposition leader Kim Dae Jung to the South Korean presidency.

2.   Also hurting the dollar were remarks earlier this month by Japanese Finance Minister Wataru Kubo, who hinted Japanese rates may rise.

3.   Also hurting the dollar against the mark are recent comments by Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer, traders said.

4.   An increase in the trade gap hurts the dollar because it means more dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen.

5.   An expanding trade gap hurts the dollar because the currency must be sold to finance the excess of imports.

6.   An increasing Japanese trade surplus often hurts the dollar by leaving a wealth of dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen to bring profits home.

7.   An increase in the trade surplus often hurts the dollar because it means more dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen to bring profits home.

8.   An increasing Japanese trade surplus hurts the dollar by leaving more dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen.

9.   An expansion in the Japanese trade surplus hurts the dollar by leaving more dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen to bring revenue home.

10.   And lower bond prices hurt the dollar, as international investors shy away from the U.S. bond market and the dollars needed to purchases U.S. bonds.