A U.S. Dollar note is seen in this June 22, 2017 illustration photo. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationTOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar edged up against key peers such as the euro and the yen on Monday, boosted by the relative strength of the U.S. economy, while losing ground against the Canadian dollar following a rise in crude oil prices.Financial markets in Australia, Hong Kong and many major countries in Europe are closed on Monday for the Easter holiday. Currency trading continues globally but volume is expected to be light.The dollar was lackluster against the loonie as crude oil prices rose more than 2 percent following a Washington Post report the United States is likely to ask all importers of Iranian oil to end their purchases or will be subject to U.S. sanctions. [O/R]The greenback has found support in recent weeks on the back of a gradual rise in U.S. 10-year Treasury yields and signs of strength in the world’s top economy, including better-than-expected retail sales in March, following a weak start to the year.“It’s better to say that the euro has been weak rather than that the dollar is strong,” said Yukio Ishizuki, senior currency strategist at Daiwa Securities.“Traders have mostly priced in the weakness of the euro zone economy by now,” Ishizuki said. REUTERS/Mark BlinchThe Canadian dollar gained about a quarter of a percent to C$1.3360 on the back of the rise in crude oil prices following the Washington Post report.Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was about 0.1 percent higher at 111.94 yen, within reach of this year’s peak of 112.17 hit on Wednesday last week.Starting on Saturday, on Japan will have an unprecedented 10-day holiday from late April to early May to mark the ascension of the new emperor, Crown Prince Naruhito.Daiwa’s Ishizuki said he expected currency trading by Japanese investors to remain relatively light as traders and companies are shifting into holiday mode.

Source: Egypt Today April 22, 2019 06:56 UTC