"The appointment of successors for outgoing U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and White House Economic Adviser Lawrence Lindsey is expected later on Monday in a move that could affect Washington's strong dollar policy. That uncertainty lifted the yen.
Still, traders also noted optimism that U.S. stocks would be solid this week since the exit of O'Neill and Lindsey could help President George W. Bush push forward with tax cuts to rev up the world's largest economy and Japan's top trading partner.
Bush is expected as early as Monday to nominate CSX Corp Chairman John Snow to serve as U.S. Treasury secretary, while Stephen Friedman, who has served as co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, is expected to take Lindsey's spot."
