European session: the euro fell

The euro fell against the dollar on Thursday as concerns about contagion from the euro zone debt crisis overshadowed a solid Italian bond auction, and

looked set to stay pressured ahead of talks to boost the region's financial firewall on Friday.

Despite decent demand at an auction of Italian five- and 10-year bonds, Italian and Spanish yields rose, dragging the euro to a session low of $1.3273.

But the shared currency remained vulnerable to concerns of contagion spreading to the euro zone's larger economies, and a general strike in Spain and the Spanish budget on Friday fanned bearish sentiment.

Expectations over the size of the rescue fund have been tempered by European Central Bank governing council member and Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann who warned that raising the firewall around stricken euro zone members would only buy time.

Traders said comments from the OECD that euro zone nations are falling far behind the United States and Canada as a fragile recovery takes root in advanced economies also weighed on the single currency.

EUR/USD: the pair fell in area of strong support $1,3260.

GBP/USD: the pair decreased, but not managed to overcome support in $1,5860/50 area (МА (200) for D1) and receded in $1,5880 area.

USD/JPY: the pair showed low in Y82.10 area then restored in Y82.30 area.

At 1645GMT, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivers the final of four lectures at the George Washington School of Business. Then at 1700GMT, Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Plosser speaks to the Rotary Club of Wilmington. Later US data includes the 1900GMT release of agriculture prices and 2030GMT release of money supply data.