1 The U.S. dollar edged lower against the Japanese yen Tuesday, and prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell back following two trading days of gains.
2 At 3:30 p.m. (0630 GMT), the dollar was trading at 98.75 yen, down 0.12 yen from late Monday trading in Tokyo and also slightly below its overnight New York level of 98.76 yen.
3 The dollar remained within a narrow range as investors refrained from taking any big moves in either direction ahead of U.S. economic reports to be released later in the week. The reports could provide clues to the future of the economy and inflation.
4 Later in the day the Commerce Department reports on retail sales for January, and the following day the government will release reports on consumer prices and industrial production in January and business inventories for December.
5 Also, the government reports on January housing sales and December trade will be released later in the week.
6 The dollar fetched 98.65 yen in early Tokyo trading. It then ranged between 98.55 yen and 98.79 yen.
7 Spot trading totaled dlrs 4.355 billion, unimpressive but up from Monday's sluggish dlrs 2.614 billion.
8 On the stock market, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 175.39 points, or 0.96 percent, closing at 18,138.47. On Monday, the benchmark index had gained 22.51 points, or 0.12 percent, consolidating last Friday's rebound of 191.80 points, or 1.06 percent.
9 The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all issues listed on the first section was down 16.03 points, or 1.12 percent, to 1,409.37. The TOPIX had shed 0.89 points, or 0.06 percent, on Monday.
10 Issues related to recovery from a disastrous earthquake in the Kobe area in western Japan last month were under selling pressure, said Tatsuo Kurokawa of Nomura Securities.
11 Construction-related stocks had soared following the Jan. 17 earthquake that leveled a good part of the port city and surrounding areas.
12 Volume on the first section slowed to an estimated 260 million shares from Monday's 286 million shares.
13 Declines outnumbered advances 783 to 200 with 164 issues unchanged.
14 The price of the benchmark No. 164 10-year Japanese government bonds finished at 96.74 yen, unchanged from Monday's close. Their yield remained unchanged at 4.620 percent.

At 3 : 30 p . m . ( 0630 GMT ) , the dollar was trading at 98 . 75 yen , down 0 . 12 yen from late Monday trading in Tokyo and also slightly below its overnight New York level of 98 . 76 yen .
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What does this signify for the U.S. dollar?