The euro rose against the US dollar on Friday, a day after the Federal Reserve left US interest rates unchanged, as strong economic data boosted the European single currency.
The euro firmed to US$1.3519, from US$1.3446 late on Thursday in New York.
The US currency lost ground against the New Taiwan dollar on the Taipei Foreign Exchange, falling NT$0.101 to close at NT$32.735.
A total of US$1.04 billion changed hands during the day's trading. The US dollar opened at NT$32.785 and fluctuated between NT$32.720 and NT$32.880.
The US currency advanced to ¥123.44, from ¥123.11 late on Thursday.
Official data showed on Friday that economic confidence in Europe stabilized last month after a reaching a six-year high in May.
The European Commission's eurozone economic sentiment indicator eased in June to 111.7 points in the 13 countries using the euro from 112.1 in May, in line with economists' forecasts.
The outlook was largely stable in the broader 27-member EU, where the indicator slipped marginally to 114.9 points in June from 115.0 in May, the EU's executive arm said.
Analysts said the data heightened expectations for interest rate rises in the eurozone, which supported the euto against the US dollar on Friday.
"Eurozone economic confidence remains firm, inflation risks remain mute, and monetary growth remains rampant. It all adds up to higher rates ahead from the ECB," David Brown at Bear Stearns said.
"We should get another ECB hike to 4.25 percent by September and there seems a reasonable chance that rates could go to 4.50 percent by the end of the year," he added.
Euro zone interest rates currently stand at 4.00 percent, with another quarter point rise to 4.25 percent broadly expected by September.
In the US, data showed that US consumer spending, a key driver of the US economy, rose in May albeit at a slower clip than most analysts had anticipated, while personal income rebounded but also fell short of expectations.
The report revealed that consumer spending increased 0.5 percent last month from 12 months ago while income rebounded 0.4 percent. Most analysts had chalked up a 0.7 percent gain in spending and a 0.6 percent rise in income.
The US central bank on Thursday left its key lending rate at 5.25 percent, as expected, and said inflation remains its "predominant policy concern," suggesting monetary policy will remain on hold for the time being.
Elsewhere, the pound was slightly firmer against the US dollar, after strong housing mortgage and money supply data fuelled speculation that the Bank of England will hike its key repo rate next week, and possibly again beyond that.
The euro changed hands at US$1.3519, against US$1.3446 late on Thursday, ¥166.85 (¥165.57), £0.6738 (£0.6713) and 1.6548 Swiss francs (SF1.6555).
The US currency was trading at ¥123.44 (¥123.11) and SF1.2244 (SF1.2311).
The pound was being traded at US$2.0067 (US$2.0025).
On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold rose to US$650.50 per ounce, from US$647.25 late on Thursday.



