Kyodo News International, Tokyo, Currency Outlook Column.

By Mutsuo Fukushima, Kyodo News International, Tokyo Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

May 17--TOKYO--The U.S. dollar is expected to weaken against the yen next week after signs that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush wants to see the dollar slip to enhance U.S. exporters' competitiveness and help win his reelection next year.

Traders said they expect the dollar to trade between 114.25 yen and 118.00 yen in the coming week at its maximum swing.

This past week, a spate of dollar-bearish comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow swept through the market, first on Sunday and then on Tuesday.

The dollar fell by more than a full yen Monday in Tokyo from New York's 5 p.m. Friday …