The Canadian dollar started February gaining after posting several consecutive losses in the last days of January as risk aversion dominated markets globally, but renewed confidence on the economic recovery allowed markets that influence Canada’s currency to gain considerably this Monday.

The pound was of the few currencies which couldn’t profit from a higher risk appetite today versus the dollar and the yen as another real estate report declined attractiveness for Britain’s currency, which started the week falling versus multiple currencies.

The U.S. dollar lost versus most of the main traded currencies in foreign-exchange markets with a stronger risk appetite today as traders expect the economic recovery to accelerate, decreasing demand for refuge currencies after the dollar gained during most of the past week’s sessions.

After losing versus most of the main traded currencies during last week’s session, the euro rebounded today as stocks surged globally, renewing confidence for higher-yielding currencies, and forcing the greenback down versus the European single currency for the first time in 5 days.

The start of 2010 was rather grim for the European single currency as consumer confidence and economic acceleration decreased in the European Union, adding to the negative sentiment spread in markets but some of the bloc’s members raising budget deficits.