The dollar slipped against the euro Friday after weak U.S. data
in the previous session damped investors' outlook for stronger
growth in the second quarter.
In early European trade, the euro was 0.4% higher at just over
$1.115, while Japan's yen and the British pound also strengthened
against the buck.
A strong U.S. economy would encourage the Federal Reserve to
raise interest rates, which would make the dollar more attractive
to yield-hungry investors.
Economists at Barclays said that the strength in the yen was
also a result of the Bank of Japan opting to keep its policy on
hold, saying the country's economy is improving moderately.
European equities were broadly steady at the open on Friday.
Brent crude was flat on the day around $66.50 while gold rose 0.3%
to around $1,208 per troy ounce.
Later in the session, investors will be eyeing speeches from the
heads of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and
the Bank of England.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is expected to
meet the Greek prime minister Friday afternoon.
According to a senior Greek government official on Thursday,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President
François Hollande said during a meeting with Greek Prime
Minister Alexis Tsipras that they would personally help if needed
to push for a speedy solution to Greece's financing woes. The
leaders met in Riga, the Latvian capital, on the sidelines of a
summit of European Union leaders.
Write to Josie Cox at josie.cox@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires