Euro extends gains vs. dollar

Euro rose against the dollar for the second session in a row, marking its highest since November 9, after achieving the largest weekly profit since the start of 2016 last week. 

The gains come after earlier data from the euro zone and amid a lack thereof from the world's largest economy, ahead of the Federal Reserve's minutes for the May 2-3 policy meeting later this week. 

As of 04:21 GMT, EUR/USD rose to 1.1234 from the opening of 1.1204, with an intraday low at 1.1162, and a six-month high at 1.1264. 

Germany's finance minister released a report on growth rates, expecting a slowdown to 1.5% in 2017 for the German economy, before reaching 1.6% in 2018, while investments are expected to grow by an average of 5% until 2021, as the Euro group meeting starts in Brussels. 

On another note, investors followed Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker's speech about the link between physical and economic well being at the Jefferson College of Health Professionals, in Philadelphia, while Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari delivered opening remarks at the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute Conference, in Minneapolis.

Markets have priced in a rate hike by the Fed in the June meeting, ahead of the minutes of the last meeting, at which policymakers held interest rates unchanged at between 0.75% and one percent after growth slowed down to three-year low in the first quarter.