FOREX-Fed boosts dollar, shakes bank stocks

The dollar hit a three-month high against the euro on Thursday and was generally stronger across the board following a slightly more optimistic assessment about the U.S. economy from the Federal Reserve.

World stocks fell, with banks taking a hit at the prospect of less liquidity pumping from the U.S. central bank and others.

The Fed's policy-making committee left rates unchanged as expected on Wednesday but reminded markets it will let most of the special liquidity facilities, which have helped bolster the U.S. banking system after last year's credit crisis, expire by early next year>>