The dollar rose against the euro Wednesday as concerns about unrest in France and the lack of a new government in Germany kept the European common currency near two-year lows against the dollar.

In late New York trading, the 12-nation euro brought $1.1763, down from $1.1787 the night before in New York and its lowest levels since November 2003. The euro had fallen as low as $1.1711 on Tuesday before rebounding slightly.

The dollar has been buoyed recently by signs of economic strength as well as continuing increases in the U.S. Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate.

Higher rates boost the U.S. currency by making dollar-denominated securities relatively more attractive to investors. Growing foreign investment in the U.S. bond market has pushed the dollar higher and the euro lower.

The British pound fell to $1.7426 in late New York trading Wednesday from $1.7434 late Tuesday. The dollar also rose to 117.47 yen from 117.12, and to 1.3100 Swiss francs from 1.3091.