NEW YORK, Jul 27, 2012 (AFP) - The euro strengthened against the dollar Friday on renewed optimism about the troubled eurozone after the leaders of Germany and France joined the ECB in vowing to protect the currency.
The euro was traded at $1.2315 around 2100 GMT, climbing from $1.2280 at the same time Thursday.
The European currency rose to 96.63 yen from 96.02 yen late Thursday.
The dollar fell against the Japanese currency, to 78.19 yen from 78.29 yen.
The euro continued to benefit from Thursday's encouraging comments from Europe's top central banker, and positive sentiment was further reinforced by pledges Friday by the leaders of Germany and France of full support to save the shared currency.
In a joint statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande pledged to do "everything to protect the eurozone."
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said Thursday that the bank was "ready to do whatever it takes" to preserve the euro.
"Draghi, Merkel, and Hollande's comments committing them to preserving the euro likely inspired even more optimism in the single currency," Nomura analysts said.
The greenback slipped to 0.9748 Swiss francs, from 0.9777 francs the previous day.
It also dropped against the British pound, which rose to $1.5747 from $1.5680.
vs/ch
