HONG KONG. Dec 31: The yen tailed to hoist itself out of the doldrums as a disappointing year dragged to a < lose, reports AFP

It took a final tumble against the dollar as US investment funds uninspired bv the ailing Japanese economy rushed to cast off the beleaguered cur-

(doom also hung over much of Asia with the Singapore dollar. Philippine peso and Thai baht dropping against the greenback.

Japanese Yen The yen ended 2000 on a dismal note as investors scurried for cover from the storm clouds gathering over the worlds second-biggest economy

The Japanese currency was quoted al I 14.89-91 against the

dollar late Friday, well down from I 12.58-(>l a week earlier.

"American invesliiK-nt funds in the main arc buying the dollar and offloading the yen. said Sanwa Bank trader Mitsuru Sahara.

"As far as they're concerned, the currency trends are merely reflecting the economic fundamentals of Japan as shown by rising unemployment, weaker industrial output and falling slock prices." he said.

A raft of figures released recently showed Japanese consumer spending (ailing, unemployment rising and industrial output on the wane, sending Ilie yen to a Hi-mouth low against ihc dollar

Aussie Dollar The dollar i^ in good shape to crack the 57 US cent barrier in the week

alien I alter rising 10 per cent in Deo iiiber. dealers said.

Singapore Dollar The US dollar advanced to 1.7335 Singapore dollars from 1.7290 a week ago.

HK Dollar: The dollar haded slightly higher at 7.7986-7.7996 to the greenback compared with the previous week's 7 7991 -7.8001

Indonesian Rupiah Financial markets have been closed in Indonesia since December 23. but on Friday Bank Indonesia announced a year-end buy/sell rate of the rupiah at 9.095/10.095 to the dollar, a sleep slide from the December 22 median closing rate of 9.380 io the greenback.

Analysts attributed the slide lo the rash of (Tirishmis Eve bombings in Indonesia that

killed at least 15 people and injured more than 100

Philippine Peso The peso < losed lower against the dollar <>ii Friday. December 29 at AO.OIO pesos from 49 90 pesos the previous week.

ROK Won The won fell two per cent, from 1,237 won per dollar a week earlier to 1,264.5 won to the greenback Friday, amid gloomy economic prospects and weak Asian curren-

Taiwan Dollar Tlx- Taiwan unit rose 0 6 per ■ ent against the greenback over the week lo close al 32.992 on Saturday after the central bank doubled the foreign currency deposit reserve - a move Intended to curb expectations of weakness in the local currency, dealers said.