Investing.com - The dollar pared gains against a basket of other major currencies on Monday, even after data showed that pending home sales in the U.S. rose to the highest level since 2006 in May, as concerns over the deadlock in Greek debt negotiations slightly eased.
The National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales index increased by 0.9% last month, compared to expectations for a gain of 1.2%.
Pending home sales in April rose by 2.7%, whose figure was revised down from a previously reported gain of 3.4%.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was steady at 95.60, down from session highs of 96.60.
EUR/USD was down 0.13% to 1.1149, after falling to lows of 1.0955 earlier in the session, while EUR/CHF slid 0.73% to trade at 1.0355.
The euro found some support after SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan said Monday the bank had intervened "in order to stabilize the markets," which were thrown into turmoil after Greece announced an emergency bank shutdown.
The Greek government ordered an emergency bank shutdown on Sunday night and the central bank moved to impose capital controls as the banking system neared insolvency after deposit outflows accelerated over the weekend.
Hours earlier the European Central Bank said it would continue providing emergency liquidity assistance to Greece’s banks, but capped emergency funding at current levels.
Greece broke off negotiations with creditors on Saturday and in a surprise move Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a referendum to be held on July 5 on whether to accept the terms proposed by lenders for extending the country’s bailout.
European finance ministers refused a request from the Greek government to extend the bailout program, set to end on Tuesday, until after the referendum.
Athens is due to repay €1.6 billion to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday but without a rescue package in place will almost certainly default.
The pound was also lower, with GBP/USD down 0.15 to 1.5726.
Data earlier showed that total U.K. net lending to individuals increased by ₤3.1 billion last month, below forecasts for ₤3.3 billion and up from ₤2.9 billion in April.
Elsewhere, the dollar was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY down 0.80% to 122.85 and with USD/CHF sliding 0.43% to 0.9288.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars were weaker, with AUD/USD down 0.19% to 0.7644 and with NZD/USD retreating 0.42% to five-year lows of 0.6813.
Meanwhile, USD/CAD climbed 0.67% to trade at 1.2404.