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Euro falls against dollar on Greece worries

London - The euro fell against the dollar on Monday on uncertainty over an international bailout for bankruptcy-threatened Greece, analysts said.

In early trading in London, the euro dropped to $1.4232 from $1.4301 late in New York on Friday.

Against the Japanese unit, the dollar rose to 80.26 yen from 80.03 yen on Friday.

"The euro softened Monday as details about the bailout plan failed to dispel uncertainty over whether Greece would gain sufficient funds that it needs for the time being," said Sumino Kamei, senior analyst at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

Eurozone ministers said blocked loans due to bankruptcy-threatened Greece under last year's bailout should be freed up by "mid-July," as they wrapped up crunch weekend talks.

After seven hours of talks in Luxembourg kicking off a week in which Europe is bidding to stave off the threat of a default that could wreak havoc with the shared euro currency, Athens will now receive the disputed €12bn ($17bn) fifth instalment once the Greek parliament passes a new austerity package.

Ministers also agreed that the critical second bailout for Greece, expected to top €100bn once more, will involve banks, pension funds and insurers being invited to agree to "informal and voluntary rollovers" of existing debts years after their original redemption dates.

"The statement from the Eurogroup meeting of finance ministers... makes it clear that the release of the next tranche of loan support for Greece is conditional on the Greek parliament approving the latest round of austerity measures," said economist Neil MacKinnon at VTB Capital.

"This introduces uncertainty in the shape of Greek internal politics, particularly the outcome of the Greek confidence vote tomorrow and the budget vote scheduled for 28 June."

Markets worry that a default on Greek debt could trigger a cascade of problems in Europe's bigger economies, including Spain. Such a domino effect could again hobble the global financial system, much like the massive crisis of 2008.

Showing the extent of international fears over renewed financial contagion, G7 finance ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States held a late-night telephone conference to discuss the Greek debt crisis.

Across the Atlantic and looking ahead to later in the week, all eyes will be on a US interest rate decision accompanied by comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday amid weakness in the world's biggest economy.

In London on Monday, the euro changed hands at $1.4232 against $1.4301 late in New York on Friday, at 114.23 yen (114.45), 0.8808 (0.8835) and 1.2043 Swiss francs (1.2142).

The dollar stood at 80.26 yen (80.03) and 0.8462 Swiss francs (0.8486).

The pound was at $1.6157 (1.6186).

On the London Bullion Market, gold prices was unchanged at $1 537.50 an ounce from the level late on Friday.

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