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Tokyo - The euro edged up against the dollar in Asia on Friday as investors awaited the outcome of a European summit amid persistent worries over heavy sovereign debts in the region, dealers said.
The euro rose to $1.3291 in Tokyo afternoon trade from $1.3242 in New York late on Thursday, and to ¥111.50 from ¥111.12.
The dollar was almost flat at ¥83.89 from ¥83.92.
While expecting no big movements in dollar-yen trade, Okasan Securities senior dealer Tsutomu Soma told Dow Jones Newswires that the euro could fall against other major currencies.
He said he was "not anticipating any dramatic developments or statements" from the EU summit in Brussels ending later in the day.
Soma said the lack of movement in dollar-yen trade would be because "there won't be many traders working in Asia as most of them will likely be on holiday."
In the United States on Thursday, data showed a sharp drop in jobless claims and a robust rise in housing construction and manufacturing activity, boosting confidence in the world's biggest economy and pushing the dollar up.
But the euro regained some ground after EU leaders agreed to create a rescue fund to help debt-ridden eurozone economies.
With Portugal and even Spain predicted to need aid like Greece and Ireland, European Union president Herman Van Rompuy said they were "ready to do whatever is required to ensure the financial stability of the eurozone."
The dollar generally eased against other Asian currencies.
It fell to $1.3111 Singapore dollars from $1.3159 Thursday, to 1 149.50 South Korean won from 1 158.40, to 9 031.00 Indonesian rupiah from 9 035.00, and to $29.78 Taiwan dollars from $29.84.
But it edged up to 30.11 Thai baht from 30.10 and to 44.21 Philippine pesos from 44.12.
