NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The euro pared earlier losses after European stocks staged a turnaround and moved higher.
The European currency had plummeted to a four-year low Monday morning as ongoing debt concerns prompted a flight to the safety of the U.S. dollar.
.png)
What prices are doing: In early trading, the euro crashed through the key technical level of $1.23, falling to a four-year low of $1.2234. But rose 0.3% against the dollar in afternoon trading, as European stocks turned higher.
With about an hour left in the session, France's CAC 40 was up 0.2%, Germany's DAX gained 1% and Britain's FTSE 100 was 0.6% higher.
The dollar rose 0.3% versus the British pound to $1.4491. It was up 0.1% against the Japanese yen at ¥92.56.
What's moving the market: As last week wore on, the euro came under pressure from investors considering a nearly $1 trillion European rescue package and lingering problems in the zone.
On Friday, the shared currency began breaking through key technical levels, which accelerated the sell-off. The euro fell to $1.2359, the lowest level since November 2008.
Meanwhile, other European countries announced austerity plans to avoid issues seen in debt-choked Greece, which sought a bailout and saw its sovereign debt downgraded to junk status.
Late last week, Portugal's government outlined a plan to cut its budget deficit including 5% pay cuts for politicians and public-sector staff leaders. Spain said it planned to cut civil service wages by 5% in 2010 and freeze them in 2011.
Investors are worried the wave of massive cuts could stifle any fragile economic growth in the euro zone.
What analysts are saying: "There is absolutely no support to the euro," said Ashraf Laidi, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
He noted there were rumors on Friday that France's debt would also be downgraded, which if true would further weaken the euro.
"There is no new reason out there, from the U.S. front, to be worried about the dollar," Laidi said. "In any case, when there is risk aversion, people tend to sell the euro and buy the dollar."
The technical sell-offs could continue accelerating, Laidi said, with the euro falling as low as $1.17, $1.10 or even parity with the dollar. 
| Overnight Avg Rate | Latest | Change | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 yr fixed | 3.80% | 3.88% | |
| 15 yr fixed | 3.20% | 3.23% | |
| 5/1 ARM | 3.84% | 3.88% | |
| 30 yr refi | 3.82% | 3.93% | |
| 15 yr refi | 3.20% | 3.23% |
Today's featured rates:
| Index | Last | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow | 32,627.97 | -234.33 | -0.71% |
| Nasdaq | 13,215.24 | 99.07 | 0.76% |
| S&P 500 | 3,913.10 | -2.36 | -0.06% |
| Treasuries | 1.73 | 0.00 | 0.12% |
| Company | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Motor Co | 8.29 | 0.05 | 0.61% |
| Advanced Micro Devic... | 54.59 | 0.70 | 1.30% |
| Cisco Systems Inc | 47.49 | -2.44 | -4.89% |
| General Electric Co | 13.00 | -0.16 | -1.22% |
| Kraft Heinz Co | 27.84 | -2.20 | -7.32% |
|
Bankrupt toy retailer tells bankruptcy court it is looking at possibly reviving the Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us brands. More |
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford charts her career path, from her first job to becoming the first openly gay CEO at a Fortune 500 company in an interview with CNN's Boss Files. More |
Honda and General Motors are creating a new generation of fully autonomous vehicles. More |
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More |
Whether you hedge inflation or look for a return that outpaces inflation, here's how to prepare. More |
