The euro slipped from a seven-week high against the dollar on Wednesday after a disappointing Spanish bond auction and weak eurozone economic data caused investors to bet the single currency had risen too far, too fast in recent days. Optimism that Greece will receive more money from its international lenders had buoyed the euro over the past week, but the rally lost steam as worries about Spain resurfaced.
The technical outlook also looked bearish after a break above $1.31, even as the euro's recent gains have pushed it up 1.1 percent year to date. Investors are also reluctant to make big bets on the euro ahead of a policy meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday.
"The euro is struggling to hold its ground ahead of the European Central Bank interest rate decision amid the negative developments coming out of the region," said David Song, currency analyst at DailyFX in New York. Spain auctioned fewer bonds than it hoped to, sending yields sharply higher and reviving talk of an official bailout request from Europe's fourth-largest economy.
A sharp fall in euro zone retail sales for October dented hopes of a consumer-led recovery from recession, which also pressured the euro. The euro fell 0.1 percent to $1.3075, retreating from a session peak of $1.3126 on Reuters data, the highest since October 18. It was the first fall in the euro against the dollar in six trading sessions.
Further chart resistance is located at the October high around $1.3140 and the September high around $1.3170. Against the yen, the euro rose 0.5 percent to 107.72 yen, having risen to a 7-1/2-month high as 107.95 on Reuters data. The euro also hit a 2-1/2 month high against the Swiss franc, though it surrendered gains in New York trading. The dollar rose 0.6 percent to 82.38 yen.
Investors have been expecting a more dovish stance from the Bank of Japan if the main opposition party, as expected, wins a December 16 election. Shinzo Abe, leader of the main opposition party, has called for the Bank of Japan to embark on "unlimited easing" and set an inflation target at 2 percent. Market talk that Abe would win an outright mandate added to the dollar's allure against the yen.
Camilla Sutton, chief currency strategist at Scotia Capital in Toronto, said she expects a broader range of $1.26 to $1.32 in the euro in the near term. "There is still too much uncertainty to drive euro back to its year-to-date highs (near) $1.35; accordingly we would expect the current rally to top out."
On Friday, the US Labour Department is to releases non-farm payrolls data for November. The New Zealand dollar was last up 0.5 percent to US $0.8280. New Zealand's central bank held its official cash rate t a record low for a 14th consecutive meeting, pointing to a high local dollar, low inflation, and the threat of price pressures from earthquake rebuilding.