Concern over how Athens will service its debt has hammered the euro - it is down nearly 10% versus the dollar since late 2009.

However, in recent weeks it is diverging from the Swiss franc and to a lesser extent the Swedish and Norwegian krona. This is due to the growing fears about the survival of the single currency.

The reassurance that Greece will get aid, if necessary, helped the euro rise against the dollar, bouncing off 10-month lows seen earlier this week.