The yen rose to the strongest level in almost six weeks against the euro which climbed 0.7 percent to 96.93 per euro as signs global growth is slowing underpinned demand for the relative safety of the Japanese currency. Yen advanced 0.5 percent to 79.33 per dollar. The dollar gained 0.2 percent to $1.2221 per euro. The dollar actually appreciated versus all except one of its 16 major counterparts after South Korea unexpectedly cut interest rates and European and Asian stocks declined. Australia’s dollar dropped the most in three weeks after a government report showed employers cut payrolls in June which fell by 27000 almost erasing a revised 27800 gain in May. The pound fell to its lowest level in a month versus the dollar on concern efforts to pull the U.K. from its second double-dip recession since the 1970s will be hampered by the euro-area crisis and declining global growth. The pound fell 0.2 percent to $1.5450 after weakening to $1.5448, the lowest level since June 8.