Euro slightly higher against US dollar

The euro traded a little higher against the dollar on Monday as new U.S. data showed that orders placed with American factories rose in December by the largest amount in five months.

The euro bought US$1.4810 in afternoon European trading, up from US$1.4803 in New York late Friday but well off a peak for the day of US$1.4849.

The British pound climbed to US$1.9739 from US$1.9677, while the dollar was up to 106.69 Japanese yen from 106.47 yen.

The 2.3 percent December rise in orders placed with U.S. factories was the biggest increase since July, and slightly better than the 2 percent increase economists had forecast.

However, total …