European stocks were mixed and the dollar rose as investors looked anxiously at increasing eurozone debt strains while hoping for progress on currency and trade tensions at a key G20 summit in Seoul.

Europe’s main stock markets closed narrowly mixed with London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares little changed at 5,815.23 points and the DAX in Frankfurt edging up 0.05 per cent to 6,723,41 points.

In Paris, the CAC 40 dropped 0.54 per cent to 3,867.35 points and other markets were broadly lower.

The euro meanwhile fell to a monthly low of $1.3781 in late London trade, compared with $1.3781 late in New York on Wednesday.

The dollar made gains against the yen to 82.43 yen from 82.28 yen.

Gold rose to $1,398.50 an ounce in London from $1,390.50 on Wednesday.

“The temptation to jump on this growing enthusiasm for euro disdain is considerable,” said Credit Agricole analyst Daragh Maher.

“But only a week ago, the market was chasing the euro higher towards $1.4300 with chatter of 1.4500 and upwards. The mood is fickle.”

Irish 10-year government bond yields meanwhile soared to 8.929 percent, the highest level since the euro was created in 1999, but the European Commission insisted that the EU was ready to support the troubled eurozone member.

They retreated to finish the day 8.646 per cent, a spread of 620 basis points over the benchmark on 10-year German Bund, which fell to 2.434 percent from 2.449 per cent the day before.