The euro pushed higher Friday seemingly impervious to the threat of more possible turbulence in the eurozone after the crucial election in Greece this weekend.
Traders shrugged off the threat that Greece's far-left Syriza party might abrogate the country's massive International Monetary Fund-European Union bailout, raising the risk that Athens would default on its debt and exit the euro, driving more turbulence across the world.
The Bank of England's clear signal it would protect Britain's banks and shore up the economy, and hints of similar possible interventions from other central banks, helped ease some of the deepest worries.
Even so, the safe-harbor yen beckoned to the most nervous investors, picking up ground on the other major currencies.
At 2100 GMT the euro traded at $1.2644, up from late Thursday's $1.2630.
The dollar slipped to 78.67 yen from 79.34 yen, while the euro fell to 99.47 yen from 100.21.
Some traders said that despite the appearance of calm, all the warning signs of more instability ahead were in the market.
"Upcoming Greek elections could force substantial volatility in the Euro and other major currency pairs, and a broad range of market indicators show that conditions show fears for the worst," said David Rodriguez of DailyFX.
"Forex options markets show that one-week volatility expectations are at their highest since the euro/US dollar topped near the $1.45 mark in October, 2011."
Simon Denham of Capital Spreads was more sanguine.
"Which way will the Greeks vote and, even if the Socialists win, will the Euro elite actually kick them out?
"Whilst it is tempting to say that the markets are likely to go bananas on Monday, no matter which way the electorate jumps, in my 30 years of market watching it has been a general truism that the greater an event is feared the less actual effect it has when it occurs."
The British pound earned a strong boost from the Bank of England's intervention, rising to $1.5714 from $1.5556 Thursday.
The dollar also slipped to 0.9496 Swiss francs from 0.9507 francs.
