The dollar held near a nine-month high against the euro on Thursday as traders awaited comments from Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan that could signal optimism over the U.S. economy and higher interest rates. Greenspan's remarks this week that "new forces" have helped to keep long-term global rates low had offered little insight to whether the central bank might be near the end of its rate-raising cycle. "There is a possibility that Greenspan may come out a bit more bullish than he was earlier in the week, which could push U.S. yields higher and boost the dollar," said Toshiaki Kimura, forex manager at Mitsubishi Trust and Banking. "The U.S. economy in general is quite strong, and if he acknowledges this, we're going to see some dollar buying." Greenspan is due to testify on the U.S. economic outlook before Congress at 1400 GMT. He did not directly address monetary policy during a panel discussion in Beijing on Tuesday, a week after Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher suggested the central bank could soon stop raising rates. The Fed has raised rates at eight straight policy meetings since last June to 3 percent. At 0238 GMT, the dollar fetched 1.2240 per euro. That was little changed from late New York trade, where the euro climbed to around $1.2355 in a volatile session, only to fall from its perch due to options-related selling around that level. The dollar was less than a cent from 1.2158 per euro, last week's peak and the highest level since September. The single currency fetched 131.15 yen, about one yen away from an 11-month low hit last week.