The Canadian dollar slumped today against the US dollar on the concerns that the European sovereign-debt crisis may worsen and as the stocks and crude oil declined. The euro was hurt by the concerns about the sovereign debt more than the Canadian currency, therefore the loonie rose against the shared 16-nation European currency.

The Australian dollar weakened today after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept the interest rates unchanged and on the outlook that the Prime Minister Julia Gillard would keep power and her Labor Party to retain government.

The euro slumped today on the concerns that the health of the European banks would deteriorate as they hold the government debts, damping the outlook for Europe’s economy.

The Japanese yen gained today on the forecast that the Federal Reserve would be required to print more money to support the faltering US economy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will keep the interest rates unchanged, according to the forecasts of the economists, as the concerns for the global economic recovery prompt the policy makers to support the nation’s economy. The pause in the rates increase may have negative impact on the performance of the Australian dollar, which for now rises.

The Chinese yuan rises to the highest level in more than two weeks today against the US dollar as the US government advisers visit China, causing the speculations that the Chinese currency would be allowed to appreciate more.

The euro traded at the highest level in more than two weeks as the analysts predicted that the government reports would show that the German economic recovery is gaining momentum.

The Swiss franc, which is consider the safe currency, rose against the euro in the first half of this week as demand for the safety increased, but slumped in the second half as the risk appetite improved. The franc slid versus the greenback at the end of the week, but decline wasn’t strong enough to erase the previous gains.

The Canadian dollar rose today against all of the most traded currencies, becoming the best performer today, as the attractiveness of the growth-related currencies was boosted by the better-than-expected US nonfarm payrolls.

The US dollar weakened today as the signs of the economic recovery, including the improving US jobs market, increased the risk appetite and diminished the demand for the currencies, considered to be the safe haven.