The euro strengthened to a one-month high against the dollar after Spain kept its investment-grade credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service, easing concern the region’s debt crisis was spreading. Moody’s said yesterday it kept Spain’s credit rating at Baa3, one step above junk, as the risk that the nation would lose market access had fallen because of the European Central Bank’s willingness to purchase its bonds.

The 17-nation currency appreciated for a fifth day versus the yen as Spanish and Italian bonds rallied. Spain’s 10-year bond yield fell as much as 29 basis points to 5.51 percent, the lowest since April 4, while Italian 10-year yields declined to the least since March 19. Benchmark Spanish borrowing costs have dropped more than 2 percentage points from their record high of 7.75 percent on July 25.

The dollar weakened versus all of its major peers as U.S. housing starts rose to a four-year high last month, damping demand for safer assets.

The pound rallied against the greenback after U.K. jobless claims unexpectedly declined.