The dollar's rise against the yen abated in Tokyo trading Thursday, as dealers finished squaring their position at the eruption of the U.S.-Iraqi conflict.
Dollar-buying on expectations of a quick resolution -- two to three weeks -- to the conflict sent the U.S. unit as high as 120.55 against the yen in early Tokyo trading, but U.S. President George W. Bush's statement that the war could last longer slowed the greenback's rise in afternoon trading.
Dollar-buying was also tempered by domestic exporters' dollar-selling in the lead up to the end-of-year book-closing, currency watchers said.