Euro falls on profit-taking

Tokyo - The euro fell on profit-taking on Wednesday after Slovakia voted down measures to enhance Europe's bailout fund, seen as vital to taming the euro debt crisis.

The single currency eased to $1.3518 and ¥104.46 in Tokyo trade against $1.3636 and ¥104.52 in New York late on Tuesday.

The dollar was at ¥76.70 against ¥76.65.

Speculators sold the euro and other non-Japanese Asian currencies against the dollar following a small recent rally, Sue Trinh, senior currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets, told Dow Jones Newswires.

The Slovak parliament on Tuesday voted against changes to expand the European Financial Stability Facility, making it the only one of the 17 eurozone nations not to ratify the plans.

"The rejection was in line with expectations and the consensus is that the plan is likely to be approved in a second vote," said Sumino Kamei, senior analyst at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

But the news nevertheless chilled sentiment as it reminded investors of persistent problems in Europe, dealers said.

"The problems have deep roots so the euro is unlikely to show an uptrend anytime soon," Kamei said.

Regional sentiment was also hit as aluminium giant Alcoa's third quarter earnings in the US missed expectations.

The EU and IMF concluded on Tuesday a drawn-out audit of Greece's economic recovery programme, paving the way for bankruptcy-saving loan funds and raising hopes Greece could avoid default in the short term.

A mission from the two organisations and the European Central Bank said that an €8.0bn loan installment will be available "most likely in early November" following approval by eurozone finance ministers and the IMF.

The euro got a boost earlier when France and Germany pledged swift and incisive action to deal with the debt crisis within weeks, specifying that banks would receive help if needed.

Further ahead, the market focus will switch to a meeting of Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers in Paris on Friday and Saturday.

The dollar was up against other Asian currencies.

It rose to Sg$1.2861 from Sg$1.2794 on Tuesday, to 1 168.97 South Korean won from 1 165.38 and to Tw$30.43 from Tw$30.34.

The unit also gained to 43.52 Philippine pesos from 43.27, to 8 957.50 Indonesian rupiah from 8 940.00 and to 30.99 Thai baht from 30.88.