Dealers said the dollar began 2004 Friday with a modest lift against the euro from strong US economic data, although analysts said the greenback remained under pressure on worries about the US current account deficit.

The taka touched its record low at 59.12 against the US dollar in thin inter-bank trading yesterday as some private banks were badly in need of dollar funds and faced pressure to pay their import payments.

But in most deals, the dollar was traded between 59.05 taka and 59.10 taka yesterday, dealers of leading commercial banks said.

"We experienced strong dollar-buying spree as some banks faced short-fall in dollar earnings through remittance and exports.