dollar trading Dec 18

In afternoon New York trading, the 12-nation euro bought $1.3098, up from $1.3078 in New York late Friday. The British pound, however, slipped to $1.9490 from $1.9503.

The dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency, edging up to 118.19 yen from 118.16 yen.

In other trading, the dollar bought 1.2219 Swiss francs, down from 1.2221 late Friday, and 1.1578 Canadian dollars, up from 1.1577.