Overall risk sentiment improved, with U.S. stocks turning positive on news that congressional leaders said their meeting with President Obama about the "fiscal cliff" was constructive.
If Congress and the White House cannot reach a debt and deficit reduction deal by the end of the year it will unleash massive spending cuts and tax increases that some believe have the potential to tip the U.S. economy back into recession.
The dollar rose as high as 81.38 yen. It last traded at 81.36, up 0.3 percent on the day, according to Reuters data.
