ECONOMY

Euro gains after loan deal approval

The euro reached a near five-month high versus the yen and held steady against the dollar on Wednesday as the Greek bailout appeared to progress, prompting some investors to pare back bets against the single currency.

Many analysts said the approval had been seen as a formality but signs the Greek bailout was on track boosted the euro zone common currency. Further gains could be capped if a stronger dollar trend driven by higher U.S. Treasury yields reasserts itself. The euro could run out of steam above $1.33, especially if euro zone purchasing managers surveys on Thursday come in weak

The euro rose to an almost two-week high of $1.3284, according to Reuters data, after Greece’s lawmakers approved the country’s second bailout deal, as expected. It was last little changed at $1.3224.

“Greek parliamentary support for the new 130-billion-euro bailout package is encouraging»,» said Camilla Sutton, chief currency strategist at Scotia Capital in Toronto. «Tomorrow’s PMIs will be important, as recent data has pointed to some stability in several European economies and the PMI will help confirm this, which would be positive for the euro.»

Technical analysts said the euro rally was likely to run out of steam around $1.33, just above the 61.8 percent retracement of its late February to mid-March fall.

“There has been an easing in general concerns about euro zone liquidity and the creditworthiness of euro zone banks, plus euro short positions can carry on being unwound,» said Adrian Schmidt, currency strategist at Lloyds in London.

He saw potential for the euro to rise towards $1.35 against the dollar, around the top of its recent range, although short-term resistance at $1.3320 may prove too high a hurdle if Thursday’s preliminary PMI data comes in weak. Investors remained wary of the risk of another flare-up in the euro zone debt crisis. Greece got its first batch of bailout payments this week, but the Italian government looked set to clash with unions over employment law reforms.

[Reuters]

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