Euro up slightly, Greek confidence vote awaited

Euro up slightly, Greek confidence vote awaited: SINGAPORE - The euro inched in choppy trading on Tuesday on expectations that the squabbling politicians will come to a decision to avoid a default on the part of Greece, the feeling, which is also buoyed Asian stocks.
Markets await the vote of confidence to the government in the Greek Parliament on the same day, a step toward passage of a reduction in costs in exchange for foreign loans to the emergency.
Meanwhile, international lenders make a surprise visit to Athens to test their determination to implement painful austerity plan that resulted in weeks of public protests and political confusion.
Euro last traded at $ 1.4347, well above the three-week low of $ 1.4073 it hit last Thursday, but compared to the high day at $ 1.4385.
"In the long run, market participants are beginning to believe that the euro zone policy makers, especially German politicians try to avoid a hard landing in Greece," said Makoto Noji, senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities.
If the vote of no confidence is passed, the Greek Parliament will vote on measures of austerity on June 28. Eurozone finance ministers gave the debt-crippled Greece two weeks, from Monday to approve further spending cuts and tax increases in exchange for an additional 12 billion euros in emergency loans.
Greece were to default on its sovereign debt, the markets fear that it could trigger the world financial crisis in much the same way as Lehman Brothers' collapse did in 2008.This time, however, debt-laden governments and central banks may have less space to offer any new incentives to strengthen economic growth.
Credit rating agency Fitch said on Tuesday it will consider as Greece sovereign debt swap and the extension of maturities, even voluntary, as by default.
If the euro had recovered, the dollar index (. DXY) fell to 74.837 from 75.472 the top.
Investors also are looking at meeting the U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday and Wednesday at which he will give its views on U.S. economic growth. Since the last meeting in April, the economy took a decisive weak tone, but there is no evidence that she may be slipping into recession.
Japan's Nikkei average (. N225) ended 1.1 percent higher, while the MSCI Asia-Pacific stocks (. MIAPJ0000PUS), with the exception of Japan, advanced 1.2 percent. Indexes in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan also increased.
Prospects Nikkei largely rangebound trade for the rest of June the analyst said.
"At least until the central bank's Tankan is out (July 1) rises is likely to be limited to 9,500," said Kenichi Hirano, strategist at Tachibana Securities, referring to the Bank of Japan's quarterly survey of corporate sentiment.
"The market is estimated in a bad mood for April-June quarter, but if the forecast for July-September, is bright, the market could rise further."
Brent Crude Oil for August delivery was steady at $ 111.90 a barrel. ICE Brent futures lost 1 percent on Monday as concerns about the resolution, the Greek debt crisis has made investors risk-taking, traders said.
Gold quietly up to $ 1,542.34 an ounce at 0524 GMT, after closing at $ 1,540.95 on Monday. Gold, one of the principal beneficiaries concerned about the safety of currencies and other assets, set a record high of $ 1,575.79 an ounce in early May.