Muscat: The US dollar today lost its footing against major peers ahead of retail sales later in the day that could offer clues on US: economic trends. Safe-haven currencies gained with the Japanese yen strengthening 0.5 percent to 146.04 per dollar after having touched a one-month low of 148.65 earlier this week. According to Oman News Agency, the Swiss franc firmed 0.6 percent to 0.8376 versus the dollar. The euro tacked on 0.2 percent to USD 1.12. Most Asian currencies advanced versus the dollar too, led by a surge in the South Korean won. The won surged 0.8 percent at 1,396.22 per dollar. The Taiwan dollar was 0.5 percent stronger to the dollar today. The dollar index, which measures the US unit against six other currencies, was 0.13 percent lower at 100.87.