Dollar tops 150 yen for 1st time since early August

The U.S. dollar topped 150 yen for the first time since early August on Thursday in New York, following the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. retail sales data and the European Central Bank's rate cut.The dollar has been bought against the yen recently on prospects that the interest rate gap between the United States and Japan will remain wide after the release of firm U.S. economic data.After staying in the upper 149 yen range in Tokyo late Thursday, the U.S. currency advanced in early New York trading and briefly hit 150.32 yen. At 5 p.m., the dollar traded at 150.19-29 yen.Retail sa…READ FULL ARTICLE