Euro down as negotiations on Greek debt bailout break up

The euro slipped in Asian trade on Thursday after talks between Greece and its European creditors on restructuring the country's bailout broke up without agreement.

Japanese shares surged to a more than seven-year high as the yen retreated against the dollar thanks to investors betting on the US Federal Reserve hiking interest rates soon.

The Nikkei in Tokyo, which was closed on Wednesday for a public holiday, rallied 1.85 percent, or 327.04 points, to 17,979.72 - its best finish since July 2007.