Investing.com - The yen held weaker in early Asia on Thursday as investors await a British vote on whether or not to remain in the European Union, with the impact of a leave vote on financial market integration a prime concern and in an otherwise light data day in the region.
USD/JPY traded up 0.28% to 104.70, while AUD/USD changed hands at 0.7520, up 0.32%. GBP/USD was quoted at 1.4813, up 0.71% and EUR/USD traded at 1.1336, up 0.35%.
An opinion poll on Tuesday showed that the campaign for the U.K. to stay in the EU lost some of its lead ahead of Thursday’s vote.
The Survation poll showed that 45% of voters supported the campaign to remain in the EU, with 44% supporting Brexit, as a vote to leave is known. 11% were undecided.
This compared to the 45% voting for remain and 42% voting to leave in an earlier survey.
Two opinion polls released on Monday indicated that support for the Remain camp had regained its lead after falling behind last week.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was last quoted at 93.81.
Overnight, the dollar remained lower lower against the other major currencies on Wednesday.
The National Association of Realtors said that existing home sales rose 1.8% in May to 5.53 million units from the 5.43 million units in April that was revised from the initial read of 5.45. The consensus forecast was for a 1.1% increase to 5.54 million units.
Separately, the International Monetary Fund said the U.S. economy was "overall in good shape" and expects U.S. growth to be 2.2% in 2016 and 2.5% in 2017.
The dollar erased gains posted on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said that gradual interest rates hikes were likely to be needed, during her testimony to Congress.