LONDON — The dollar edged slightly lower against most major currencies in listless European trading Thursday, as many dealers stayed out of action due to the closing of U.S. markers for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Gold prices rose.
Currency dealers said business likely would have been quiet even without the closure of U.S. markets, as many participants said they had a neutral short-term view of the dollar.
Dealers said there was little motivation for now to move the dollar sharply up or down. Lending some support to the currency was last week's accord on cutting the U.S. budget deficit, which raised prospects for a meeting of monetary officials of the Group of Seven nations: the United States, Japan, Britain, West Germany, France, Canada and Italy.
In London, the dollar fell to a 5 1/2-year low against the British pound, which was quoted at $1.7945, compared to $1.7940 late Wednesday.
