Euro at multi-year lows against dollar, yen

TOKYO: The euro touched multi-month lows against the dollar and yen on Wednesday as investors fret about the impact on the eurozone economy of possible fresh sanctions against Russia following the downing of Flight MH17.In late afternoon Tokyo trade, the single currency bought $1.3461 and 136.51 yen, down from $1.3465 and 136.62 yen in New York late Tuesday.

However, it was up marginally from the earlier exchanges when it touched $1.3458 at one point, its lowest since November, and 136.40 yen, its weakest level since February.

The dollar fetched 101.40 yen compared with 101.45 yen in US trade.

The greenback was supported by data showing US inflation slowed in June to 0.3 percent, from 0.4 percent in May, suggesting there was no need for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than the expected middle of 2015.The euro is facing selling pressure as investors worry that another round of sanctions on Russia will have a knock-on effect for the eurozone.

Moscow is facing fresh measures over its support for Ukrainian rebels who have been accused of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 last week. But with the eurozone heavily reliant on its giant eastern neighbour for energy supplies, there are fears the bloc´s already fragile economies could suffer as a result.

Adding to the geopolitical tensions, major US, European and Canadian airlines cancelled flights to and from Israel Tuesday, after a rocket fired from Gaza struck near its main international airport in Tel Aviv.

However, IG Securities´ Junichi Ishikawa said the euro´s weakness may be more linked to a possible divergence in monetary policy between the European Central Bank and the Fed.

The ECB has launched unprecedented easing measures which may weaken the euro as the Fed scales back its stimulus programme, a move which tends to support the dollar.