By Rae Wee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar firmed to a near three-month high on Monday as investors awaited the release of data this week to gauge the health of the U.S. economy and determine whether it could alter the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance.

The yen languished near an 8-1/2-month low, pressured by wide interest rate differentials between the U.S. and Japan.

Trading was thinned in Asia on Monday due to a holiday in Japan, leaving currencies mostly rangebound, though most were pinned near recent lows against a strong dollar.

The euro fell to a three-month trough and last traded at $1.1527. Sterling fell 0.26% to $1.3136 ahead of the Bank of England’s rates decision this week; the central bank is expected to stand pat.

While the ongoing U.S. government shutdown is expected to

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