LONDON: The euro dived to a fresh six-month low point against the dollar yesterday as traders focused on the deteriorating economic health of the euro zone, dealers said. Falling oil prices also helped prop up the greenback.
In late European deals, the European single currency had clawed back some ground at 1.4901 dollars after earlier touching 1.4816.
That was the lowest point since February 26 and compared with 1.4898 late in New York on Monday.
Against the Japanese currency yesterday, the dollar dropped to 109.81 yen from 110.10.
Later this week, economic growth data from Germany and the euro zone was expected to pour more cold water on the single currency.
FTSE ends lower
Britain’s leading shares ended fractionally down during a choppy trading session yesterday as mining companies tracked weaker metal prices while ITV marched upwards as persistent bid chatter swirled.
The FTSE 100 was down 7.3 points, or 0.1 percent at 5,534.5 points, after hitting a low of 5,491.3 and a high of 5,569.2.
On the downside, metal prices eased as investors shifted some of their money back to the dollar, which weighed on mining stocks.