Euro barely lower as Ireland, Spain offer reminders of debt troubles, buys $1.3622

Euro barely lower amid debt trouble reminders

BERLIN — The euro has slipped only slightly after Ireland detailed the potential cost of bailing out government-owned Anglo Irish Bank and Moody’s downgraded Spanish government debt.

The 16-nation euro bought $1.3622 in Thursday morning European trading, down from $1.3643 in New York late Wednesday.

That left it close to five-month highs reached this week on concerns the Federal Reserve might take further action to boost the U.S. economy which would weigh on the dollar.

In Europe, Ireland’s central bank put the cost of rescuing Anglo Irish Bank at as much as €34 billion. Moody’s joined two other major credit rating agencies in downgrading Spanish debt.

The British pound rose to $1.5873 from $1.5795. The dollar slid to 83.22 yen from 83.62.