SYDNEY: The euro languished at multi-month lows against many of its peers early on Wednesday, having moved decisively lower overnight along with an eye-catching fall in the Swiss franc.
Traders said there was no specific trigger although the weaker euro dovetailed nicely with expectations for the European Central Bank to ease policy further.
Some traders noted a big buy order in USD/CHF from a real money fund had helped push the dollar up on the euro, cracking a big barrier in the $1.3475-$1.3510 zone.
The dollar climbed 0.5 percent to 0.9027 francs.
The common currency plumbed eight-month lows against the greenback and the Australian dollar at $1.3459 and A$1.4304.
On the yen, it slid to its lowest in over five months at 136.58, bringing its 2014 trough of 136.25 yen back in view.
Analysts at BNP Paribas noted the previously strong support for the euro from capital inflows has now been unwound, with purchases of foreign securities by European investors outweighing demand for euro zone assets from abroad.
"The gradual widening in interest rate differentials in favour of the US also adds to the argument that EURUSD has scope to fall further as we target 1.32 on our trade recommendation," they wrote in a note to clients.
The premium offered by two-year US Treasuries over German debt has widened to around 46 basis points, levels not seen since 2007.
There were no signs of renewed risk aversion in the wider market with US and European stocks closing higher on Tuesday even as geopolitical tensions simmered.
The European Union threatened Russia on Tuesday with harsher sanctions over Ukraine, while there was no let-up in the fighting around Gaza. Softness in the euro helped the dollar index rise to six-week peaks at 80.837.
Even the high-flying sterling ceded a bit of ground to stand at $1.7066, pulling further away from a six-year top of $1.7192 set last week.
The Australian dollar managed to hold firm and briefly broke above 94 US cents after the central bank chief chose not to talk down the currency at a speech on Tuesday.
It last stood at $0.9394, having reached a two-week high of $0.9423 overnight.
Aussie bulls are now keenly awaiting domestic inflation data due at 0130 GMT. An upside surprise is likely to trigger a bigger market reaction given futures markets have priced in a 36 percent chance of an interest rate cut by year-end.
The annual underlying inflation rate is expected to remain fairly steady at 2.7 percent, while the headline is seen creeping up to 3.1 percent, just above the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2-3 percent long-term target.
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