The market is also waiting nervously for the release Thursday of the US housing starts data for any fresh trading leads, after having largely priced-in the likely rate hike at the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

The market is watching economic indicators one by one to see how far the current dollar-bullish sentiment will extend.

The dollar met strong resistance due to selling by Japanese importers and speculators, and turned softer against the yen.

The dollar's upward momentum is likely to accelerate on the payrolls figures. The widening U.S. rate gap over Japan and the euro region is strongly supportive for the dollar.

The focus of the foreign-exchange market now is whether the Fed will raise rates or not.

Investors have taken risky one-sided bets on a rising dollar this year. Some will likely continue cutting dollar holdings through the holiday period. That's limiting the yen's losses.

The yen is looking undervalued at current levels. The Fed is probably getting into the final stage of rate hikes, and Japan and Europe may be coming closer to a tightening policy, so there may be some adjustment in the recent rally in the dollar against the yen and the euro.

These books and seminars usually advise them to book profits or cut losses by the order of, say, a quarter of a yen.

While the downside seems to be firm below the USD1.90 level, the euro has only limited room to gain, given the likelihood that interest rate differentials between the euro zone and the US will remain wide.

There is a growing possibility of a victory for the LDP and Koizumi by a big margin, which is positive for the yen. There is speculation that Koizumi's grip on power will strengthen, making it easier for him to promote reforms.