FACTBOX - Dollar soars vs yen, but slips vs euro in 2012

Dec 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar had a strong year against the yen in 2012, but dropped against the euro and other major currencies. Here are some quick facts about the currency market in 2012:

The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback versus a basket of six currencies, fell 0.5 percent in 2012, the worst year since 2009.

The euro climbed to an 8-1/2-month peak versus the dollar on Dec. 19, but is only up 1.8 percent for the year. The single currency's advance in 2012 was its first after two years of declines.

The best-performing major currency against the U.S. dollar was the New Zealand dollar, which gained 6.3 percent, the largest annual gain since 2010.

In 2012 the Australian dollar advanced 1.7 percent against the U.S. dollar. It was down 4.4 percent against the New Zealand dollar, the first annual decline since 2005, when it had a 1 percent drop, and the biggest since a 5.6 percent drop in 2004.

The U.S. dollar gained 12.6 percent against the yen The dollar's advance was the best since a 15.1 percent gain in 2005. The dollar managed only two other annual gains against the yen in intervening years, 0.9 percent in 2006 and 2.5 percent in 2009.

The euro rose 14.7 percent against the yen. It was the best advance against the yen since the launch of the euro in 1999.

(Reporting By Nick Olivari)