--The dollar got a lift due to short-covering as U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave no signals of any further credit easing. --At the same time, Bernanke stopped short of indicating an early exit from the Fed's loose monetary stance, a factor that will limit the dollar's rally. --The euro took a breather, with the market no longer expecting Greece to default on its debt in July. By Tatsuo Ito Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES TOKYO (Dow Jones)-- The dollar slightly strengthened against major currencies in Asia Thursday as short-covering continued to kick in after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday quashed speculation of any further credit easing. The greenback got a boost as traders who had gone short were forced to unwind their positions due to the dollar's upward momentum from the start of the session. But the dollar's rally fizzled out by midday after the completion of short-covering amid a lack of follow-through buyers. At 0500 GMT, the dollar was at Y80.45 from Y80.30 late Wednesday in New York, according to EBS via CQG. The euro was at $1.4311 from $1.4356, while the euro was at Y115.09 from Y115.26. The U.K. pound was at $1.6053 from $1.6071. "Some market participants had speculated that the Fed might signal a further credit easing since the U.S. economy has been faltering," said Etsuko Yamashita, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Bank. "But the fact is it didn't. And the outcome induced short-covering," she added. While Bernanke didn't entirely rule out another round of bond purchases, he made it pretty clear such a move is unlikely. Bernanke also said there is no longer a risk of deflation. "Low risks of deflation effectively rule out further aggressive monetary stimulus," said David Rodriguez, quantitative strategist at DailyFX Research Desk, adding that "the dollar may continue to recover as the Fed wraps up its controversial purchases of U.S. government debt at the end of June." But Sumitomo Mitsui's Yamashita said that since the Fed chairman did not provide any cues for an early exit from its accommodative credit easing stance, "there are no reasons to buy the dollar further," expecting the dollar to stay stuck in an Y80-Y81 range for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, the market has become less jittery about the Greek debt situation, at least for now, after Greece's prime minister survived a crucial confidence vote in parliament late Tuesday, with little movement seen in the euro. "The market doesn't expect Greece to default on its debt in July," Yamashita said. The ICE Dollar Index, which tracks the U.S. dollar against a basket of currencies, was at 75.057 from about 74.854 late Wednesday. By Tatsuo Ito, Dow Jones Newswires; +813-6269-2780; tatsuo.ito@dowjones.com

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