Dollar and other major currencies in a holding pattern in early afternoon trade, ahead of U.S. October retail sales figures to be released at 1330 GMT. -- Average forecast among economists polled by was for a rise of 2.7 percent after the attacks on the U.S. led to a 2.4 percent fall in September. -- Greenback now hovering at 121.52 against yen, after pushing up to around 121.80 earlier in the day. -- Euro also quiet at $0.8817 to the dollar and 107.17 to the yen. -- News that Japan's October bankruptcies were up 11.7 percent at a 17-year high was largely ignored by the market.

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