* Demand for safe-haven yen ebbs as risk aversion eases
* Dollar/yen pulls further away from 16-month low
* Sterling weighed after BOE policymaker comments
* Aussie shored up by bounce in commodity prices
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The dollar stood tall against the yen and euro on Tuesday as global risk aversion that battered the greenback the previous week eased.
The dollar was little changed at 114.435 yen JPY= , having gained more than 1 percent overnight.
It pulled away from a 16-month low of 110.985 struck last week when a sharp slide in equities worldwide boosted demand for the safe-haven Japanese currency.
"I believe market pessimism, particularly towards the U.S. economy, that took hold at the start of the year was exaggerated," said Masafumi Yamamoto, chief forex strategist at Mizuho Securities in Tokyo.
"Thanks in addition to the stance shown by the Japanese authorities to stem the yen's appreciation, I see the dollar recovering towards 120 yen. But we will need to see additional factors that point to a U.S. economic recovery."
In wake of the yen's big rally, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Tokyo would take action against "excessive currency volatility."
The euro, which soared to a 4-month high of $1.1377 last week, was flat at $1.1165 EUR= after losing 0.9 percent on Monday, when market movements were slightly exaggerated as the U.S. markets were closed for a national holiday.
The common currency was also weighed down after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Monday the central bank was ready to ease policy further in March, highlighting risks from financial market volatility, a global slowdown in growth and low oil prices. dollar index .DXY =USD was up 0.5 percent at 96.652.
Sterling remained under pressure after Bank of England policymaker Ian McCafferty said inflationary pressures had fallen, although he still expected the next interest rate move to be up. traded little changed at $1.4441 GBP=D4 after slipping 0.5 percent overnight.
Commodity-linked currencies like the Australian dollar fared better following gains in crude oil prices. The Aussie nudged up 0.1 percent to $0.7144 AUD=D4 , adding to Monday's 0.5 percent gain.
"Improving risk sentiment, European shares rose sharply for the second consecutive session on Monday, boosted by a rebound in banking stocks. .EU " (Editing by Kim Coghill)