The single currency reached a 31-month high against USD before falling slightly before the close. Across the year it has risen by more than 10% against the greenback.
It weakened against GBP yesterday, but nevertheless ends of the year around 7% higher than at the start.
The markets shrugged off a momentous week for the European Union, with its second-largest economy and donor leaving the bloc and its largest economy seeing a huge rise in Covid fatality rates. The vaccination programme has begun just as New Year celebrations were cancelled. Many countries can look forward to a resumption of their tourist industries by the Easter holidays.
It has been a quiet week for data releases, but the first working day of the New Year will commence with Markit Manufacturing PMI across the bloc and new car registrations.
