Early trade in New York: Euro climbs to 15-month high

The euro rose to a 15-month high against the dollar on Friday, supported by expectations of more eurozone interest rate increases, while the prospect of a US government shutdown pushed the dollar broadly lower. The euro was also helped by reported Middle East sovereign demand.
The dollar was pressured as the White House and Congress worked frantically to break a US budget deadlock by the end of the day in order to avoid a government shutdown. The euro was up 0.9 percent at $1.4432 with a session peak of $1.4444. The Australian dollar jumped to a high of $1.0546. Against the yen, however, the US dollar rose, trading up 0.1 percent at 85 yen, still within striking distance of a six-month high hit earlier this week.