Before the move on the euro, the day's dominant trend had been gains for the yen, investors' best choice as a safe haven from concerns over a weakening Chinese yuan and tensions in Ukraine.
The yen was last year's major loser among the world's most traded currencies, down around a fifth in trade-weighted terms.
Russia, Ukraine currencies rebound
The dollar was up 0.1 percent against the ruble at 36.05, showing a recovery in the Russian currency after it hit a five-year low on Feb. 26 amid protests in Ukraine.
The recovery came despite ongoing tensions in neighboring Russia and Ukraine. Armed men took control of two airports in Ukraine's Crimea region on Friday in what Ukraine's new leadership described as an invasion and occupation by Moscow's forces.
The ruble's recovery may mark a "relief rally" of traders buying the currency after the large selloff, said BK Asset Management's Lien.
Ukraine's hryvnia has also recovered sharply. The dollar was last down 7.62 percent at 9.7 hryvnia, marking a rebound in the Ukrainian currency after it hit a record low against the dollar on Thursday at 10.6 hryvnia.
The yuan recovered some ground, but still lost about 0.87 percent for the week against the dollar, its biggest weekly loss on record.
Most western bank analysts are agreed that the moves by the People's Bank of China are aimed at squeezing out some of the speculative money that has banked on the yuan's steady rise against the dollar over the past decade.
"I think Chinese authorities are not just aiming to widen the band on the yuan with this move, I think they are also as concerned about growth and the aim here is to put a stop to the steady appreciation we have seen in recent years," said Neil Mellor, strategist with Bank of New York Mellon in London.
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—By Reuters