The euro is down against the dollar, still weighed down by the euro area

The EUR fell against the dollar Friday always, in a market disappointed by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), which has hinted no new measures to help its economy while there are increasing concerns about global growth.

Around 1800 GMT (8:00 p.m. in Paris), the euro bought 1.2498 dollars against 1.2561 dollars Thursday at 2100 GMT.

The euro retreated against the yen at 99.29 yen against 100.01 yen Thursday.

The dollar fell against the yen at 79.45 yen against 79.58 the previous day.

"As expected, the rebound of the euro against the dollar during the past few days has run out of fuel," commented analysts at Commerzbank.

While investors were expecting a strong gesture of the Fed in light of the deteriorating economy in the world's largest economy, its chairman Ben Bernanke has simply reiterated Thursday that he chairs the institute would "maintain a policy highly accommodative monetary "without giving further details.

However, the rise in the unemployment rate to 8.2% in the U.S. in May, had sparked speculation that the Fed may decide to inject additional liquidity into the economy, at the next meeting Ordinary its Monetary Policy Committee (FOMC), scheduled for 19 and 20 June

New injections of funds from the U.S. central bank in the world's largest economy would dilute the value of the dollar, making it less attractive to traders, but also, by increasing liquidity in the market, giving boost purchases of riskier assets.

In this context, the optimism generated by the surprise cut in interest rates reference to China, a first since 2008, has quickly fell.

Furthermore, the disappointing comments from Mr. Bernanke said Thursday the downgrade of Spain by rating agency Fitch, three notches (A to BBB), and two notches to be considered a speculative investment, mentioning in particular the "fiscal cost of restructuring and recapitalization of the Spanish banking sector".

Fitch was also accompanied by a negative outlook, meaning it could again deteriorate this country in the heart of the debt crisis of the euro area.

This promises to be reinforced fears about the country's ability to finance markets, while Spain had to concede rates rise again in a bond issue Thursday, noted analysts.

The market fears that Spain brought in the wake of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, to seek external financial assistance to stem the crisis.

However, the main risks to the euro, that is to say, "that Spain would need a bailout and an output of Greece in the euro area, are already integrated into the course, this should limit the decline "of the single currency by the Greek elections of 17 June, tempered Kathleen Brooks, an analyst at Forexnews.

And even if the Spanish government, hostile to an assistance plan for its overall economy, ensures that no decision taken yet on a possible request for assistance for its banks, a Saturday meeting of senior officials of the euro area , dedicated to this issue, was in the air in Brussels.

Around 1800 GMT, the British pound remained stable against the euro at 80.88 pence per euro and fell against the greenback at 1.5448 dollar.

The Swiss franc was stable against the euro, Swiss franc to 1.2008 per euro, and retreated against the greenback at 0.9608 Swiss francs to the dollar.

The Chinese currency finished at 6.3703 yuan against one dollar for 6.3638 yuan yesterday.