Euro up to $1.3959 after Fed minutes

BERLIN: The euro has climbed back toward the $1.40 mark as the dollar sags again on expectations that the Federal Reserve is close to taking new measures to support the U.S. economy.

The 16-nation euro bought $1.3959 early Wednesday in Europe, up from $1.3914 in New York late Tuesday. The British pound rose to $1.5840 from $1.5778, and the dollar slipped to 81.82 Japanese yen from 81.88 yen.

The dollar already lost ground on Tuesday after the release of minutes from the Fed's September meeting raised expectations that policymakers were close to enacting a new support plan.

Many expect the central bank will announce a big bond-buying program as soon as next month. That could drive record-low interest rates even lower.