LONDON, Jan 17: The dollar fell back against the euro on Thursday after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke voiced support for special measures to help bolster the troubled US economy, dealers said.

They said Bernanke’s comments, coupled with very weak US housing sector figures, put the dollar under pressure once more as the market anticipated hefty interest cuts and other measures.

The single European currency in late-day trade was at $1.4686 against $1.4652 late Wednesday in New York.

The dollar was meanwhile trading unchanged 106.87 yen.

Trade has been very choppy over the past several days as players tried to guess what the Fed will do at its end-January meeting, with most once again expecting a large cut in interest rates -- half or even three-quarters of a point.

In European trade Thursday, the euro changed hands at $1.4686 against $1.4652 late Wednesday, at 157.01 yen (157.72), 0.7445 pounds (0.7480) and 1.6141 Swiss francs (1.6127).

The dollar stood at 106.87 yen (106.87) and 1.0988 Swiss francs (1.1005).—AFP