Euro builds on recovery in European trade

The euro made further gains on Wednesday as dollar bulls paused before the end of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting. Trading was thin with holidays in much of Asia and Europe and most currency pairs traded within tight ranges, although the New Zealand dollar dropped heavily in Asian trading after weak jobs data heightened expectations interest rates would fall.
The Fed meeting comes after strong US economic data last month pushed the dollar to a two-year high while hurting the euro, where concerns about a slowdown and underperformance in the region's economy had been growing.
Relatively strong economic growth data in the euro zone on Tuesday, however, prompted some short covering from hedge funds that have been betting against the single currency, lifting the euro above $1.12.
The euro added to those gains on Wednesday, rising 0.2 percent to $1.1240, its highest since April 23.
The dollar slipped in London trading, with the index down 0.1 percent at 97.354, although not everyone thinks the greenback's weakness will persist.
"The risk for this Fed meeting is that, unless the FOMC meets the market's dovish expectation for their stance, we would expect another leg higher in USD," Mizuho strategists said.
The day's big mover was the New Zealand dollar, which fell half a percent after data showed employment unexpectedly fell in the March quarter, although the jobless rate dropped to 4.2 percent.
Markets responded by betting a rate cut was more likely. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which holds a policy meeting next week, has already said its next move was likely to be down.
The kiwi recovered from earlier lows and was last down 0.2 percent at $0.6662.
The Australian dollar gained 0.1 percent to $0.7059.
"Currencies benefiting from strong global growth combined with low inflation pressures have caught a bid," Morgan Stanley analysts said, listing the pound and the Indian rupee as both countries are dependent on capital inflows to fund their current account deficits.
The pound rose 0.3 percent to $1.3075, leaving it up 1.7 percent since Monday. The Bank of England holds its policy meeting on Thursday, where it is expected to keep rates unchanged.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.1 percent to 111.31 yen per dollar in quiet trading. Japanese markets are closed for a string of public holidays.