TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The dollar was held to narrow trading ranges due to a lack of fresh leads, with many market participants opting to keep their trading to a minimum ahead of a raft of economic data due for release later this week, dealers said. In Japan, industrial output, retail sales, unemployment rate and household spending data will be published over the next two days. Yasuda Trust and Banking Co Ltd foreign exchange assistant manager Takashi Fujieda said the market is unlikely to show signs of moving in a clear direction until the release next week of the Bank of Japan's Tankan report and the US NAPM data. "I am particulary looking out for the NAPM report, which is the first major business sentiment report following the terrorist attacks," he said. According to the release overnight by the Conference Board, the US consumer confidence index fell to 97.6 in September from a revised 114.0 in August, with the 16.4 point decline representing the index's largest monthly decline since October 1990, when it declined by 23.0 points. Underpinning the dollar are concerns the Bank of Japan may intervene as well as Wall Street's gains overnight, dealers said. In addition, investors refrained from taking fresh positions due to uncertainty over the likely ramifications of expected US retaliatory strikes in Afghanistan following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the US, they said. "It seems that the dollar is no longer expected to be pushed lower just on concerns over the launch of the retaliation, although it should show reaction once the retaliation begins," Fujieda said. The euro was firmer against the dollar, but was top-heavy due to the speculation over large sell orders near the 0.93 usd level, dealers said. "If the euro is able to break through the resistance at the 0.93 usd level, it may test the 0.95 usd level eventually," Fujieda said.