Investing.com - The euro remained higher against the U.S. dollar in subdued trade on Friday, as investors continued to monitor developments in Ukraine and Iraq.
EUR/USD hit 1.3408 during U.S. morning trade, the pair's highest since August 5; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.3403, rising 0.30%.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3333, the low of August 6 and a nine-month low and resistance at 1.3445, the high from August 1.
Market sentiment found some support after news reports signaled that Russia might be looking to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict.
The news came one day after Moscow banned imports of most food from the West in retaliation against sanctions against it over Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike on Islamic insurgents in Iraq. Via Twitter, the Pentagon's press secretary said that US military aircraft had struck rebel artillery that was being used against Kurdish forces defending a position near American personnel.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that Germany's trade surplus narrowed to €16.2 billion in June, from €18.8 billion in May. Analysts had expected the trade surplus to narrow to €17.5 billion in June.
A separate report showed that French industrial production rose 1.3% in June, exceeding expectations for a 1.0% gain, after a decline of 1.6% in May, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 2.3% drop.
The euro was also higher against the pound, with EUR/GBP climbing 0.52% to 0.7981.
In the U.K., official data on Friday showed that the trade deficit widened to £9.41 billion in June, from £9.15 billion in May, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated £9.20 billion. Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to £8.80 billion in June.