Investing.com - U.S. new home sales rose less than expected in June, but remained in territory consistent with a healthy housing market, official data showed on Wednesday.
New home sales inched up by 0.8% to a seasonally adjusted 610,000 units last month, compared to expectations for a gain of 1.4% to 615,000, the Commerce Department said in a report.
New home sales in May were revised down to 605,000 units from a previously reported 610,000 units.
USD/JPY was at 111.92 from 111.88 earlier, EUR/USD was trading at 1.1630 from around 1.1635 ahead of the release of the data, while GBP/USD was at 1.3043 from 1.3038 earlier.
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was at 94.03, compared to 94.01 ahead of the report.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets were modestly higher after the open. The Dow 30 rose 0.4%, the S&P 500 tacked on 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.3%.
Elsewhere, in the commodities market, gold futures traded at $1,248.32 a troy ounce, compared to $1,248.32 ahead of the data, while crude oil traded at $48.23 a barrel from $48.23 earlier.