* Dollar rebounds versus euro as second quarter ends
* Record high euro-zone inflation cements rate hike views
* Focus on ECB meeting, U.S. payrolls report on Thursday
(Recasts, updates prices)
NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar gained
against the euro on Monday as traders bought back the U.S.
currency as the second quarter ends, though losses in the euro
were limited ahead of an expected rate hike by the ECB this
week.
The euro has benefited recently from widespread
expectations that the European Central Bank will raise rates to
4.25 percent on Thursday to fight inflation.
"As the quarter comes to an end, we are seeing some
investors adjusting their portfolios, buying back some dollars
and selling euros," said Greg Salvaggio, a currency trader at
Tempus Consulting in Washington. "But selling in the euro may
stall ahead of the ECB meeting. They are going to raise rates
and possibly indicate further hikes."
In late trading in New York, the euro was 0.3 percent lower
at $1.5744 after earlier hitting a three-week high of $1.583
<EUR=>. Analysts said a break of technical resistance around
$1.5850 could open the door for a move above April's record
highs above $1.60.
The dollar earlier hit a month-low versus a trade-weighted
basket of six major currencies at 72.041, but rebounded to
trade 0.1 percent higher at 72.463 <.DXY>.
Euro-zone consumer prices jumped to a record high 4.0
percent in June, double the ECB's 2 percent target, according
to data released on Monday.
Analysts said the data would further harden the ECB's
resolve to hike interest rates when it meets this week, with
some seeing risks increasing for a post-July tightening as
well.
"The ECB fears that deteriorating inflation expectations
might induce higher-than-expected wage claims. As these
pressures are likely to edge higher in the near term, risks of
the ECB going beyond the expected July hike are mounting," said
Clemente de Lucia, an economist at BNP Paribas in Brussels.
The greenback had little reaction to a report showing
business activity in the U.S. Midwest contracted in June for a
fifth straight month, but at a less severe rate than expected.
For details, see [].
"The currency reaction has been modest. Even though it's
stronger than expected, it doesn't really rank up there as a
highlight this week, given that we get a nationwide
manufacturing gauge from the ISM tomorrow and then the ECB
decision and U.S. payrolls later in the week," said Nick
Bennenbroek, head of FX strategy at Wells Fargo Bank in New
York.
The closely watched U.S. employment report is expected a
day earlier than usual on Thursday, along with the ECB meeting.
On Friday U.S. markets will be closed for the Independence Day
holiday.
"Payrolls (data) has the greatest potential for surprise,
and we think the risks are weighted toward disappointment,"
Bennenbroek added. "So even after what was a big drop for the
dollar last week, there is probably still room for it to fall
further."
The greenback also rebounded from earlier lows against the
the Japanese yen. It last traded little changed against the yen
at 106.13 yen <JPY=>.
The dollar was on track to gain more than 6 percent versus
the yen this quarter, the best quarter since the three-month
period ended Dec. 31, 2001. The euro was last down 0.2 percent
against the dollar in the quarter at current prices, after
rising about 8 percent in the first quarter.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday in
Moscow he believes in a strong U.S. dollar and that U.S.
officials were working to resolve the country's economic
problems.
(Reporting by Nick Olivari and Vivianne Rodrigues; Additional
reporting by Steven Johnson; Editing by Leslie Adler)
