By Lisa Twaronite, MarketWatch
TOKYO (MarketWatch) - The dollar edged higher in Asian trading Wednesday, but mostly stuck to recent ranges, as investors awaited a Thursday meeting at which European Union leaders are to discuss the economic outlook, including assistance to Greece and other heavily indebted southern European countries.
"Through various comments (and some rumors), the EU summit faces the wrath of the market on Thursday if they do not approve some kind of assistance or understanding," said Sue Trinh, senior currency strategist at Royal Bank of Canada, in a note to clients.
The dollar index (DXY 79.86, +0.00, +0.00%) , which tracks the greenback against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, rose to 79.941 from 79.768 in late North American trading on Tuesday.
The euro slipped to $1.3756 from $1.3796 late Tuesday.
The dollar bought 89.67 yen, up from 89.59 yen late Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the dollar dropped versus the euro as speculation about a possible rescue of Greece and other euro-zone countries mounted.
