Investing.com - The yen held weaker in early Asia on Monday with key regional data sets ahead expected to set the tone, including provisional third quarter economic growth figures from Japan.
USD/JPY changed hands at 106.78, up 0.09%, while AUD/USD traded at 0.7556, up 0.16% ahead of key data out of main trading partner China
Japan reports third quarter GDP with a 0.2% gain seen quarter-on-quarter and a 0.9% pace year-on-year. Also on Monday, Japan reports industrial production for September which is seen flat month-on-month.
Later out of China comes fixed asset investment for October with an 8.2% rise seen year-on-year and industrial production expected up 6.2% and retail sales seen rising 10.7%.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was last quoted at 98.99.
Ahead, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is to speak at an event in Rome.
Last week, the dollar hit its highest levels in nine months against a basket of the other major currencies on Friday, boosted by expectations that the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will spur growth and inflation.
Expectations for higher U.S. interest rates also remained intact amid optimism that a pick-up in growth will allow the Federal Reserve to tighten borrowing costs.
Investors currently price an 81.1% chance of a rate hike at the Fed's December meeting; according to federal funds futures tracked Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor Tool.
Expectations for higher rates typically boost the dollar by making it more attractive to yield seeking investors.