The euro slipped 0.4 percent to $1.0832 EUR=. The common currency fell to an eight-month low of $1.0523 in December but has appreciated significantly because the ECB's easing decision that month fell far short of expectations.
The dollar was up 0.3 percent at 118.03 yen JPY=, pulling away from a one-year trough of 115.97 struck earlier this week against the safe-haven Japanese currency.
The Chinese yuan remained relatively steady against the dollar as efforts by local authorities to quell speculation of a sharp depreciation appeared to work for now.
Onshore spot yuan CNY=CFXS stood little changed at 6.5794 to the dollar, corralled in a narrow 6.5837-6.5768 band so far this week.
After guiding the yuan sharply lower and pushing onshore spot rates to a five-year low earlier this month, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) has helped the currency steady by setting a succession of midpoints within a tight range.
Authorities have also introduced steps to discourage speculators from shorting the yuan.
U.S. crude oil CLc1 extended an overnight rally made after data showed stockpiles at some U.S. sites did not grow as much as forecast, providing participants in the battered market with an incentive to cover short positions.
The contracts were up 1.2 percent at $30.71 a barrel. U.S. crude fell to its lowest levels since 2003 earlier this week as the prospect of Iranian oil - following the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran - flooding a heavily saturated market dragged down prices.
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