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TOKYO: The euro and yen slipped against the dollar in Asian trade Friday as traders reacted to slower-than-expected Chinese growth, while a failed North Korean rocket launch had little impact, analysts said.
The euro bought $1.3167 in Tokyo afternoon trade, down from $1.3199 late Thursday in New York where the single currency edged up on easing investor fears over the eurozone's fiscal woes.
The European single currency was trading at 106.70 yen Friday, against 106.65 yen in New York. The dollar firmed to 81.03 yen from 80.74 yen.
China said Friday its economy grew by a lower-than-expected 8.1 percent in the first quarter, the slowest pace in nearly three years and down from the 8.9 percent rise in the fourth quarter of 2011 as turbulence in Europe and the United States hit business activity.
“Market players were in a slightly risk-off mood after the Chinese data,”said Daisuke Karakama, market economist at Mizuho Corporate Bank.
“The currency market was hardly affected by North Korea's launch,” he added.
However, the long-range rocket's failure did remove an overhang on the stock market in Japan, which had put its military on standby over fears it could accidentally land in Japanese territory.
South Korean and Japanese officials said Pyongyang had launched the rocket but it exploded in mid-air before splashing down in the Yellow Sea off the Korean peninsula.
North Korea admitted the failure later Friday.
The dollar was mixed against other Asian currencies, falling to 1,135.40 South Korean won from 1,141.70 on Thursday, to 30.73 Thai baht from 30.79, and to Sg$1.2485 from Sg$1.2557.
It also dropped to 9,175.00 Indonesian rupiah from 9,180.00 rupiah and held steady at Tw$29.49 while firming to 42.72 Philippine pesos from 42.65 pesos.
