Asian session: The dollar was 0.4 percent from the lowest this month versus the euro

The dollar was 0.4 percent from the lowest this month versus the euro before Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner meets congressional leaders to discuss the so-called fiscal cliff. Geithner will meet separately with each of the four top leaders in Congress today. House Speaker John Boehner said yesterday he is “optimistic” lawmakers engaged in budget talks can avert the crisis.

The Dollar Index declined for a second day after comments from U.S. lawmakers fueled optimism the $607 billion combination of tax increases and spending cuts due to take effect in January will be avoided.

The yen fell versus most major peers as Asian stocks gained before data forecast to show the U.S. gross domestic product expanded faster than previously estimated. The U.S. economy probably grew at an annualized 2.8 percent in the third quarter, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before the figures due today. The initial reading from the Commerce Department last month showed a 2 percent increase.

The European Commission is likely to confirm today that a gauge of the euro area’s consumer confidence slid to the lowest in more than three years as the region’s prolonged debt crisis weighed on growth. The index fell to minus 26.9 this month from minus 25.7 in October, economists forecast, matching the figure released a week ago that was the lowest since May 2009.

Moody’s Investors Service said in a report today that Greece’s debt burden remains unsustainable even after European finance ministers decided to ease bailout terms and release funds to the nation.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $1.2940-60.

GBP/USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $1.6005-20.