Euro down slightly at $1.2684 after better US data, European bank jitters

Euro slightly lower at $1.2684

BERLIN — The euro is a little lower against the dollar after U.S. data showed a drop in the number of people signing up for jobless benefits and as jitters about the European banking sector persist.

The euro bought $1.2684 in Friday morning European trading, down from $1.2700 in New York late Thursday. The pound slipped to $1.5390 from $1.5430.

This week has seen new jitters about the health of European banks. The euro slid Thursday following reports that Germany’s Deutsche Bank AG was considering raising up to €9 billion in a stock issue. The bank declined to comment.

In other trading, the dollar climbed to 84.04 Japanese yen from 83.90 yen. Japan’s government said Friday second-quarter growth wasn’t as weak as first thought but unveiled a new stimulus package.