LONDON, 6 February 2004 — The euro spurted higher against the dollar yesterday as dealers saw little prospect of a lasting impact on currencies from a Group of Seven meeting of finance ministers and central bankers this weekend. The single European currency rose to $1.2605 from $1.2536 late on Wednesday in New York. The dollar edged up to $105.53 from $105.40 on Wednesday.
The euro was changing hands at $1.2605 from $1.2536 late on Wednesday in New York, 133.01 yen (132.15), 0.6860 pounds (0.6841) and 1.5689 Swiss francs (1.5679). The dollar stood at 105.53 yen (105.40) and 1.2441 Swiss francs (1.2506).
On the London Bullion Market, the price of an ounce of gold stood at $399.55 against $399.25 late on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, European stock markets saw mixed fortunes yesterday. In London the FTSE 100 index fell 0.32 percent to close at 4,384.40 points, in Frankfurt, the DAX dropped 0.34 percent to 4,014.79 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 eked out a slight gain of 0.08 percent to 3,610.31 points. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares eased 0.13 percent to 2,816.34 points.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Swiss SMI index eased 0.32 percent to 5,758.2 points and the Milan Mib30 fell 0.58 percent to 27,478. The Amsterdam AEX index added 0.25 percent to 349.85 points, the Brussels Bel-20 edged up 0.25 percent to 2,385.71 and the Madrid Ibex-35 gained 0.76 percent to 7,949.1.
In New York, US stocks remained near the unchanged mark yesterday .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.92 points, or 0.02 percent, at 10,472.66. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 1.18 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,125.34. The technology-laced NASDAQ Composite Index rose 1.13 points, or 0.06 percent, to 2,015.27.