The dollar rose against the yen Monday in Asia, overcoming weak U.S. jobs data released last week as Asian equity markets steadily picked up and prodded investors into selling the yen, according to a report of the Associated Press. The dollar rose to 102.40 yen midafternoon in Tokyo, up from 102.04 yen late Friday in New York. The euro fell to US$1.5672 from US$1.5723. The dollar weakened Friday after the release of data that showed U.S. payrolls slumped by 80,000 in March, the third straight monthly drop and the biggest decline in five years. Stock prices in Asia, nevertheless, bounced back on Monday, which in turn prompted investors to buy back high-yield currencies versus the yen. Such yen sales also pushed the dollar higher against the yen. The dollar also rose against other Asian currencies. It gained 0.36 percent against the Philippine peso to 9,218 and added 0.24 percent against the Indian rupee to 39,940.
