Euro Zone Plans Currency Defense

[banana republican]

Finance ministers from the euro zone are expected today to agree to continue their effort to talk down the euro amid concerns the currency's renewed strengthening could stifle a fledgling economic recovery.

The regular monthly meeting will be critical in coming up with a common position on the euro's rise against the dollar ahead of a European tour by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow and a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 leading industrial and emerging-market economies.

European officials in recent days have continued to denounce the recent sharp climb in the euro against the dollar. "Brutal changes in exchange rates are not welcome," said European Central Bank executive-board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell -- a reiteration of ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet's comments last week that kicked off the latest round of verbal intervention.

In addition, officials have kept up their critique of what they perceive as the main reason behind the strong euro and weak dollar: large U.S. budget deficits. Mr. Snow, however, said Europeans' complaining about the impact of a weakening U.S. dollar should foster economic growth by lowering tax rates and creating more open labor markets.

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