Euro near $1.41 ahead of Bernanke speech

[October 15, 2010]  BERLIN (AP) -- The euro is within sight of nine-month highs against the dollar ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that could give more details of new action to stimulate the U.S. economy.

The 16-nation euro bought $1.4094 in Friday morning European trading. That was below the $1.4121 it reached the previous day, its highest since late January, but above its level of around $1.4050 later Thursday.

The British pound, which slipped below $1.60 on Thursday, was up to $1.6034.

The dollar remained weak against the Japanese currency, buying 81.20 yen -- still above Thursday's 15-year low of 80.94 yen.

Currency markets have focused recently on expectations that the Fed will soon announce a bond-buying program, driving interest rates still lower.

[Associated Press]

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