Dollar holds losses as markets await Fed minutes, speakers

By Rocky Swift TOKYO, Oct 7 (Reuters) The US dollar remained lower on Wednesday after stress in European bond markets abated and as eyes turned to the release of Federal Reserve minutes and speeches by its policymakers for signals on a potential rate hike. The euro surged by the most in seven weeks in the prior session ​as French bond yields slid after the frontrunner in next spring s presidential election outlined plans to slash spending. ‌The yen weakened even after a dovish Bank of Japan board member said she would support interest rate increases. Later on Wednesday, the US central bank is due to release minutes of its September 15-16 policy meeting when it raised interest rates to contend with inflation. Comments from Fed policymakers have come across as less hawkish following lower-than-expected personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data and jobs data last week. There seems to be a little bit less urgency on ‌the Fed ​to hike rates after the softer PCE and then the nonfarm pa