LONDON: The dollar jumped to a two-month high against the euro Friday as positive US economic data increased speculation on a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.
The single European currency in late-day trade was at 1.4601 dollars against 1.4732 late Thursday in New York. The dollar was meanwhile trading at 89.14 yen after 88.25 on Thursday. In London on Friday, the euro was changing hands at 1.4601 dollars against 1.4732 dollars late on Thursday, 130.15 yen (130.01), 0.8985 pounds (0.9049) and 1.5119 Swiss francs (1.5110). The dollar stood at 88.14 yen (88.25) and 1.0354 Swiss francs (1.0256). The pound was at 1.6249 dollars (1.6276).
On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold advanced to $1,124 an ounce at the fixing from $1,128.50 late on Thursday.
Meanwhile, European stock markets moved higher Friday. In London the FTSE index added 0.33 percent to close at 5,261.57 points while in Paris the CAC-40 rose 0.14 percent to 3,803.72. The Frankfurt the DAX gained 0.83 percent to 5,756.29 points.
Elsewhere there were gains of 0.15 percent in Brussels, 0.12 percent in Milan, 0.72 percent in Amsterdam, 0.18 percent and 0.01 percent on the Swiss Market Index.
US stocks traded mixed Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 16.25 points (0.16 percent) to 10,442.08 at 1645 GMT, paring opening gains in choppy trade.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index advanced 2.48 percent to end at 10,107.87 points.