At the end of the day yeaterday, the euro traded at $1.1710, while on 16 August evening it was at $1.1775.

The European Central Bank (ECB) set the euro's exchange rate at $1.1767.

Retail sales in the US fell 1.1 percent in July from a month earlier, worse than expected, but industrial production rose 0.9 percent, more than expected.

In the euro zone, it was announced that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 2 percent in the second quarter compared to the first three months, data that were in line with forecasts.

The Dollar rose against nearly every major currency as a refuge for investors in periods of uncertainty that lead to risk avoidance.

Currencies...............18 August................16 August

Euro/dollar..............1.1710................... 1.1775

Euro/pound...............0.85293.................. 0.85077

Euro/yen.................128.27................... 128.62

Dollar/yen...............109.53....................109.23