TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar trimmed gains on Thursday after hitting a six-week high against the yen and a three-month peak versus the euro, but it stayed firm as U.S. efforts to tackle the housing crisis boosted the greenback's safe-haven appeal. The yen is coming under pressure due to worries about the Japanese economy -- which suffered its deepest contraction in more than three decades in the latest quarter -- and political uncertainty as voter support for Prime Minister Taro Aso sinks. Market players will be closely watching the Bank of Japan's policy decision due later in the day, though the outcome may do little to improve sentiment for the yen with limited options for the central bank to combat the deteriorating economy with interest rates already so low, they said. "There is an emerging view that the yen may not be so appropriate to buy, unlike before, at times of risk aversion," said Minoru Shioiri, chief manager of forex trading at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities. Political uncertainty in Japan was adding to gloom about the economy, in comparison to the U.S. and European governments' swift policy actions to combat the global recession, traders said. "The U.S. was the first to be hit hard by the crisis, but could also be the first to get out of it, with quick policy actions," Shioiri said. The dollar dipped 0.2 percent from late New York trade to 93.65 yen, but stayed within reach of Wednesday's high of 93.96 yen on trading platform EBS, the highest since January 7.

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