NEW YORK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The dollar rose against major currencies on Thursday as Wall Street fell sharply.

    Investors were still worrying about the credit crisis despite global rate cuts on Wednesday. Stocks of General Motors fell 30 percent after a major credit ratings agency said it was considering cutting its rating on the largest car manufacturer, dragging broader stocks down.

    The Dow Jones industrial average fell 678.91 points, or 7.3 percent, to close at 8579.19. It was the first time that Dow closed below 9,000 since June 30, 2003. Falling stocks boosted demand of the dollar as a risk aversion currency, sending it rising against the euro and other major currencies.

    The euro was also hit by comments from European Central Bank officials, who said economic growth in the euro zone would be very weak for at least several quarters, and there could be further coordinated interest-rate cuts.

    The euro bought 1.3661 dollars in late New York trading compared with 1.3680 dollars it bought late Wednesday. The British pound fell to 1.7197 dollars from 1.7292 dollars.

    The dollar rose to 1.1296 Swiss francs from 1.1259 Swiss francs, and rose to 100.48 Japanese yen from 100.31 Japanese yen. It rose to 1.1439 Canadian dollars from 1.1245 Canadian dollars.