Publications
Partners
New York - The euro firmed against the dollar Friday, bolstered by an encouraging sign of confidence in Germany, Europe's biggest economy.
The euro rose to $1.3555 around 2200 GMT from $1.3478 at the same time Thursday.
The European currency also strengthened against the yen, buying 137.21 compared with 136.33 Thursday. Earlier the euro hit an intraday peak of 137.35 yen, the highest level since late October 2009.
The dollar rose to 101.23 yen from 101.15 yen, revisiting highs last seen in early July.
"The gain in the euro is one of today's more notable moves, with the single European currency boosted by strong German confidence data," said Nick Bennenbroek, head of currency strategy at Wells Fargo Securities.
The German Ifo institute's business climate index -- a key measure of the mood in the industry and trade sectors of Europe's biggest economy - rose to 109.3 points from 107.4 points in October.
Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a rise to 107.7 points.
The upbeat survey, which follows data earlier this week indicating a four-year high in German investment sentiment in November, suggests the economy may have regained slight momentum in the fourth quarter, analysts said.
The dollar fell to 0.9071 Swiss franc from 0.9134 late Thursday. It also weakened against the pound, which rose to $1.6221 from $1.6193.
