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Euro rises as finance ministers meet Euro rises as finance ministers meet
(about 2 hours later)
The euro has jumped against the British pound and the Japanese yen.The euro has jumped against the British pound and the Japanese yen.
The move comes as France prepares to voice concerns about the strength of the euro at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels.The move comes as France prepares to voice concerns about the strength of the euro at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici is worried that the rising single currency is making the country's goods less competitive.French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici is worried that the rising single currency is making the country's goods less competitive.
The euro has risen by 6% against a basket of other currencies in the past six months.The euro has risen by 6% against a basket of other currencies in the past six months.
But with other countries also wanting to weaken their exchange rates, there are renewed fears of "currency wars".But with other countries also wanting to weaken their exchange rates, there are renewed fears of "currency wars".
Japan has recently moved to force down the value of the yen.Japan has recently moved to force down the value of the yen.
On Monday, the single currency rose 1.1% against the yen to 125.30. Against the pound, it climbed 1% to 85.41p. 'Co-ordinated approach'
Last week, Mr Moscovici called for the European Central Bank (ECB) to consider setting a target for the single currency - steering it lower when the value became too high. On Monday, the single currency rose 1.1% against the yen to 125.30. Against the pound, it climbed 1% to 85.41p. It climbed slightly against the dollar to $1.3387.
"We will have a debate about exchange rates," Mr Moscovici told reporters as he arrived for the meetings.
"The euro has appreciated strongly in recent months... for positive reasons, because confidence is coming back in the eurozone."
He added: "I think that we must, at the international level, argue for a co-ordinated approach that will allow us to have a stable exchange rate... exchange rates should not be subject to moods or speculation,".
Last week, France called for the European Central Bank (ECB) to consider setting a target for the single currency - steering it lower when the value became too high.
But both Germany and the ECB are against such a move, arguing that the central bank's mandate is to ensure price stability and not to manage currency markets.But both Germany and the ECB are against such a move, arguing that the central bank's mandate is to ensure price stability and not to manage currency markets.
However, ECB President Mario Draghi was widely thought to be trying to talk down the euro at his interest rate press conference last week.However, ECB President Mario Draghi was widely thought to be trying to talk down the euro at his interest rate press conference last week.
"The exchange rate is not a policy target, but it is important for growth and price stability," Mr Draghi said in response to a question."The exchange rate is not a policy target, but it is important for growth and price stability," Mr Draghi said in response to a question.
"We will closely monitor money market developments.""We will closely monitor money market developments."
Daragh Maher, a senior currency strategist at HSBC, told the BBC that France was probably more "twitchy" because numbers were showing its competitiveness to be declining.Daragh Maher, a senior currency strategist at HSBC, told the BBC that France was probably more "twitchy" because numbers were showing its competitiveness to be declining.
There are reports that the G7 group of rich countries may release a statement later this week to cool talk about currency markets. It is thought that it will reaffirm its commitment to market-determined exchange rates.
Today's Eurogroup meeting - attended by eurozone finance ministers - is the first to be hosted by the Netherlands. Financial aid to Greece and Cyprus is also likely to be discussed.Today's Eurogroup meeting - attended by eurozone finance ministers - is the first to be hosted by the Netherlands. Financial aid to Greece and Cyprus is also likely to be discussed.