Dollar steady in Asia

TOKYO: The dollar held steady in Asia Tuesday as investors await the end of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting for clues about the bank's plans for its stimulus programme.

The greenback bought 97.62 yen in Tokyo morning trade, from 97.66 yen in New York on Monday, while the euro slipped to $1.3776 from $1.3787 and 134.43 yen from 134.67 yen.

While analysts widely expect the Fed to keep its $85 billion a month asset-buying scheme in place they will be poring over Wednesday's announcement for clues as to when it will start winding it down.

The bank had been expected to begin tapering by the end of this year but a weak set of data, including soft jobs growth, and this month's two-week government shutdown has made that highly unlikely.

Fed officials say they will only begin reeling in the scheme when the economy is strong enough.

The likelihood of the wind-down being put off increased on Monday, with an uneven set of economic figures out of Washington.