Frankfurt (AP): The euro on Friday exceeded US$1.54 for the first time, after the European Central Bank left its benchmark rate unchanged a day earlier and signaled that rate cuts are not expected in the near term.

That sentiment pushed the euro to a new high in European morning trading; it reached US$1.5429 before dropping back slightly to US$1.5395, above the US$1.5370 it bought in New York late Thursday. It was the latest in a string of records for the 15-nation euro this week.

``The euro-dollar has taken another significant level this morning, having breached US$1.5400, and although this may be initiating a degree of profit-taking in the short term, many will remain mindful of Trichet's hawkish stance and tacit acceptance of a stronger euro at yesterday's ECB rate-setting meeting,'' said James Hughes of CMC Markets, referring to ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet.

European Union businesses said they were starting to feel the pinch, notably from U.S.-based buyers who assert that the high euro makes European goods more expensive.

Meanwhile, the British pound stayed above the US$2 mark for a second day, buying US$2.0132 in European trading, above the US$2.0092 it bought in late New York trading the night before. Like the euro, it jumped higher after the Bank of England kept its own interest rate unchanged at 5.25 percent.

The dollar drifted lower to 101.96 Japanese yen from 103.09 yen on Wednesday.