New york: The dollar began the month of December on a softer note as investors ramped up bets of a US interest rate cut later this month. Against a basket of currencies, the greenback was down 0.05% to 99.39, having lost 0.7% last week.

According to Oman News Agency, the Japanese currency extended gains, climbing 0.4% to a session high of 155.49 per dollar, helped by comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda who left the door open to a near-term rate hike. The euro was up 0.04% at $1.1605, while sterling last bought $1.3239, after having clocked its best week in over three months on Friday.

The Australian dollar rose 0.08% to $0.6553, while the New Zealand dollar was little changed at $0.5738.