Monday, November 4, 2013

Euro Near Two-Week Low on ECB; Aussie Climbs as Spending Surges



The euro was 0.1 percent from its lowest in two weeks before European Central Bank Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen speaks in the run-up to a policy meeting amid signs further stimulus may be needed in the region.
Europe’s common currency maintained its biggest weekly drop since July 2012 before the Mario Draghi-led ECB meets on Nov. 7, when economists predict it will keep interest rates at 0.5 percent. The dollar held gains from last week against most major peers before Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher speaks today, after a Nov. 1 report showed U.S. manufacturing was the strongest in more than two years. Australia’s dollar rose, halting back-to-back weekly declines, after retail sales rose twice as fast as economists forecast.
The euro rose 0.1 percent to $1.3498 as of 8:50 a.m. in Singapore, and last week dropped 2.3 percent, the largest decrease since the five days ended July 6, 2012. It fell as low as $1.3480 on Nov. 1, the least since Oct. 16.
Europe’s shared currency gained 0.1 percent to 133.23 yen. The dollar traded at 98.70 from 98.67 in New York. Japan’s financial markets are closed for a national holiday today.
The euro sank last week after an Oct. 31 report showed the region’s annual inflation rate fell to 0.7 percent in October, the least since November 2009, from 1.1 percent in September.
(Source: Bloomberg)

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