Euro weak ahead of ECB meeting

Euro weak ahead of ECB meeting
Updated on

Summary The euro bought $1.3416 in Tokyo midday trade against $1.3421 in New York late Monday.

TOKYO (AFP) - The euro stayed weak against the dollar in Asia on Tuesday as investors awaited eurozone data and a monthly policy meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB).

The euro bought $1.3416 in Tokyo midday trade against $1.3421 in New York late Monday while buying 137.63 yen against 137.64 yen in US trade.

The dollar was at 102.58 yen against 102.56 yen in US trade.

The eurozone services purchasing managers  index and retail sales to be released later Tuesday are set to "confirm the on-going improvement in domestic demand," Credit Agricole said in a note.

The ECB is widely expected to hold fire on further easing measures when it holds a policy meeting on Thursday.

But it comes amid continued concerns at the low level of inflation in the eurozone with any hints at more stimulus likely to spark euro selling.

The bank has stayed pat since it launched unprecedented stimulus measures in June, including taking one of its key interest rates into negative territory.

Although the eurozone came out of recession last year and unemployment has fallen slowly, the Ukraine crisis and Western sanctions against Russia present a wild card of uncertainty.
 

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