Dollar steady in Asia

TOKYO: The dollar held steady in Asia Tuesday ahead of US housing data, while the yen was under pressure after a record Japanese trade deficit boosted speculation of more central bank monetary easing.

In Tokyo afternoon trade, the greenback fetched 102.64 yen, slightly up from 102.62 yen in New York on Monday.

The euro bought 141.59 yen against 141.58 yen while it was also nearly unchanged at $1.3795 from $1.3794 in US trading.

"The dollar remains firm, especially against the yen after Japanese trade number disappointed," Credit Agricole said.

"The week ahead will likely be relatively quiet given a lack of key focus, and as geo-political issues in Ukraine continue to cast a shadow on sentiment."

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday urged Russia to take "concrete steps" to implement an agreement on defusing the crisis in Ukraine.

The accord, struck last week in Geneva, was meant to lower the heat on the worst confrontation between Washington and Moscow since the Cold War, but each side has accused the other of violating it.