Things are in upheaval in Greece again as workers strike in protest over the austerity measures meant to help bring Greece's financial situation under control.

Workers went on a 24-strike to protest austerity measures, causing Greek bonds and stocks to fall. The strike is also affecting other stock markets throughout Europe, with indices in Frankfurt and Paris lower. The FTSE 100 is down, too, today. (In the U.S., stock futures point to a lower open.)

Greeks are not happy with planned wage cuts and other measures meant to help get Greece's deficit under control and restore confidence in the country. However, as long as Greeks protest the move, putting pressure on the government, the Greek problem risks spreading to the rest of the euro zone.

Earlier in the session, the euro struggled in forex trading against the U.S. dollar. In large part, this was due to the weak trade numbers coming out of Germany.

As the largest economy in Europe -- and the euro zone -- Germany is very influential in terms of how the euro does in spot forex trading. 

However, this weaker trade data has been gotten over, for the most part. With European stocks managing to hold on to their gains, and with the U.S. stock market opening higher, there is some optimism, also helped along by positive news out of China. For now, the euro has pared its earlier losses and is moving higher in spot forex trading.

Spread betting and contracts for differences on the spot forex market should consider that the euro is showing signs of life today. In the wake of fresh protests against austerity measures in Athens on Friday, the European Union is proposing new pan-European institutions that could prevent another problem in Greece. Additionally, some European leaders are expressing support for Greece at this time.

GFT's Boris Schlossberg reports in FX360 on the challenges that still face the euro in spot forex trading:

Still, while we believe that some of the short term pressure on the EUR/USD may have been alleviated, the unit remains vulnerable to further selling by skeptical shorts especially if economic data does not show any improvement exacerbating the fiscal deficit gap dynamics that have plagued the euro this year. For the time being however, pair appears to have stabilized at 1.3400-1.3600 region and may mount a counter trend rally this week.