Dollar surges in September, leaving euro lagging

Sept 30 (Reuters) - The dollar hovered near its highest level of the year against the euro on Wednesday and was on track for its biggest monthly gain versus the single currency in ‌14 months, buoyed by stronger US growth and rising interest-rate expectations.

The euro has been one of the worst-performing major currencies ‌this year, pressured by Europe's energy and debt worries. The dollar has gained nearly 2.2% against the euro in September, putting it on course for a third consecutive quarterly ​advance.

A run of data pointing to a resilient US economy and persistent inflation prompted the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this month for the first time in three years. Traders subsequently priced in a more aggressive path for US monetary policy relative to the euro zone, where growth remains weaker and debt concerns are mounting.

Some of that hawkish Fed pricing eased on Wednesday after New York Fed President John Williams said ‌there was "no need for urgency" in raising rates, ⁠while French data showed consumer inflation accelerated more than expected in September.

The euro edged up to $1.135 but remained close to the May 2025 low touched in the previous session. It was also testing support near ⁠178 yen.

"I would still regard the current dollar strength as rather fragile, not least because it already appears over-stretched even relative to developments in the euro area-US interest rate differential," said Thu Lan Nguyen, an FX analyst at Commerzbank.

Key drivers for the euro will be expectations for Federal Reserve and ​European ​Central Bank policy. Comments by ECB President Christine Lagarde his week were seen ​as pushing back against the prospect of consecutive rate hikes.

Options ‌markets have increasingly reflected demand for protection against further euro weakness in recent sessions.

Investors also weighed the prospects of an imminent end to the Middle East conflict after Iran said it had received a US response to its latest proposal to resurrect a collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf.

Sterling rose around 0.5% to a one-week high of $1.3292 after data showed the British economy grew faster than previously estimated in the second quarter. It firmed 0.3% against the euro, which hit a one-month low of 85.44 pence.

Next up on the data front ‌is the Fed's preferred inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, for August.

Traders ​have cut expectations for a 25-basis-point Fed rate increase next month to about 42%, ​from around 70% earlier this week, according to CME Group's ​FedWatch tool. Markets also expect the ECB to keep rates unchanged in October, according to LSEG data.