The dollar was slightly lower against major currencies, though with trade subdued as investors await US durable goods data and key German surveys later this week. US durable goods numbers are scheduled for release on Wednesday, as well as US home sales figures on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since both these data are likely to be on the weak side -- with orders slipping back after two months of strong gains while the housing market reports may reveal some signs of cooling --, the dollar could see some reversal of the gains enjoyed last week, said CALYON analyst Mitul Kotecha. "Data releases are unlikely to give much support to the dollar," he said, adding that sentiment for the currency "remains weak" despite last week's gains. Also on the radar this week will be business sentiment surveys out of Germany -- the ZEW tomorrow, followed by the key Ifo survey on Thursday. Investors will be looking to see whether the recent upturn in the euro zone economy extended into August, or whether worries over record high oil prices have been sufficient to dent confidence, analysts said. Elsewhere, the yen continued to gain, rising to one-month highs against the euro, with the dollar dropping back below the 110 yen mark, bolstered by recent upbeat economic data out of Japan. A succession of upbeat economic data releases have given credence to the forecasts of the Bank of Japan and the government that inflation will return in the fourth quarter, removing a key uncertainty surrounding the economy, said Bank of New York analyst Simon Derrick. Additionally, opinion polls continue to suggest that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will win the upcoming elections next month, allowing him to push through his planned reforms which will aid the country's recovery, he added. "The yen is clearly benefiting from a concurrence of positive factors," he said. Meanwhile, sterling was up slightly against the dollar ahead of a quiet week for UK data, though it fell against the euro, erasing some of last week's gains. The single currency fell to six-week lows against the pound late last week after the minutes to the latest meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee revealed only a very close vote to cut interest rates, making further cuts later this year unlikely.