BERLIN (AP) — The 16-nation euro is down against the dollar as traders look ahead to a meeting this week where European Union countries will discuss ways to ease the debt crisis.
The euro dipped below $1.31 before rising back slightly to purchase $1.3203 in morning European trading Monday, down from $1.3232 late Friday in New York.
The British pound is down to $1.5781 from $1.5802, while the dollar rose to purchase 84.12 Japanese yen from 83.90 yen.
In the wake of rescues for Greece and Ireland, EU officials meet in Brussels this week to discuss the creation of a permanent crisis mechanism for the eurozone starting in 2013.
Germany has been pushing for such a measure but been against other measures, such as boosting a bailout fund or issuing European bonds.
