* Euro hits 1-mo low vs dlr as U.S. unit broadly up
* Moody's puts Ireland's sovereign rating on review
* Dollar/yen steady after Citigroup, GE earnings
* Swiss franc sold after SNB Roth's comments
(Updates prices, adds quote)
By Tamawa Desai
LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - The dollar rose broadly against
other major currencies except the yen on Friday, with the euro
falling to a one-month low against the U.S. currency on
lingering concerns about the global economy and banking system.
The dollar held steady against the yen after first quarter
results from Citigroup Inc <C.N> were better than analysts'
estimates.
The banking group posted a first-quarter loss of 18 cents
per share, compared with with estimates of a loss of 30 cents.
Separately, General Electric also reported
better-than-expected earnings.
Despite such news, "risk appetite is still struggling," said
Geoffrey Yu, currency strategist at UBS in London. "The market
is still cautious and is not moving firmly in one direction."
By 1119 GMT, the euro was down 1.0 percent at $1.3045
<EUR=>, after hitting a low of $1.3036, the lowest since
mid-March. The single currency was also down 1.0 percent against
the yen at 129.52 yen <EURJPY=>.
The dollar gained 0.8 percent against a basket of currencies
at 85.880 <.DXY>. The U.S. currency was flat at 99.26 yen
<JPY=>.
The euro was also pressured after ratings firm Moody's
Investors Service said on Friday Ireland's 'AAA' rating may be
cut to mid-to-high Aa range if it concludes that the country
will emerge from the crisis with "relatively weak growth
prospects and a much higher debt burden". See [].
Ireland has already lost its top-notch rating from the other
two major ratings firms, Standard &Poor's and Fitch Ratings.
Moody's said its decision reflects the "severe economic
adjustment" taking place in Ireland.
The single currency had already been reeling from earlier
comments from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude
Trichet and as the market anticipated that the central bank will
announce unconventional measures at its May meeting.
"It was already the case that the market was turning more
euro-sceptic," Brussels-based KBC analyst Peter Wuyts said.
"On a day-to-day basis, uncertainty over what will be
decided at the ECB meeting is the dominant trading theme," he
said.
Data on Friday showing a smaller-than-expected euro zone
trade deficit of 2 billion euros failed to lift the euro as it
also revealed that both exports and imports tumbled by over 20
percent. See [].
Meanwhile, the Swiss franc fell sharply against the euro and
dollar after Swiss National Bank Chairman Jean-Pierre Roth
warned the central bank was ready to intervene should the Swiss
franc strengthen.
"All I can say is that we acted decisively on the market and
we will act decisively on the market again should a similar
situation arise, (i.e.) a tendency of the franc strengthening
against the euro," Roth said. []
He did not answer when asked whether he could tell how much
money the SNB used for its first intervention to weaken the
franc on March 12.
The SNB said in March that it would use currency
intervention as a means of monetary easing as it lowered
interest rates to a record low 0.25 percent.
Traders said Roth's comments pushed the Swiss franc lower,
and said there were no signs of currency intervention by
authorities. The euro rose as high as 1.5237 franc <EURCHF=>
while the dollar hit a peak of 1.1671 franc <CHF=>.
(Additional reporting by Jessica Mortimer; Editing by Victoria
Main)
