Investing.com - The U.S. dollar was steady against most of its major counterparts on Tuesday, as markets eyed the outcome of a critical Italian vote on fiscal reforms, while embattled Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced calls to step down.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar was slightly lower against the euro, with EUR/USD edging up 0.11% to hit 1.3789.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government was to face a key vote on fiscal reforms, in what was being seen as a test of the prime minister’s majority in parliament and which would determine if he has enough support to stay in power.
The greenback also edged lower against the pound, with GBP/USD easing up 0.07% to hit 1.6066.
A report earlier showed that manufacturing output in the U.K. rose slightly more-than-expected in September, but industrial output was unexpectedly flat.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY dipping 0.05% to hit 78.00, and USD/CHF shedding 0.36% to hit 0.8972.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Swiss consumer confidence fell more-than-expected in October, dropping to the lowest level since July 2009 amid concerns over the economic impact of the persistently strong Swiss franc.
Meanwhile, the greenback was higher against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD rising 0.24% to hit 1.0150, AUD/USD shedding 0.44% to hit 1.0331 and NZD/USD slipping 0.14% to hit 0.7958.
In Australia, official data showed that the country's trade surplus expanded less-than-expected in September, rising to AUD2.56 billion after a reading of AUD2.95 the previous month.
Analysts had expected a trade surplus of AUD3.02 billion in September.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.10% to hit 77.06.
Later Tuesday, finance ministers from the European Union member states were to meet in Brussels to discuss the region’s ongoing financial crisis.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar was slightly lower against the euro, with EUR/USD edging up 0.11% to hit 1.3789.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government was to face a key vote on fiscal reforms, in what was being seen as a test of the prime minister’s majority in parliament and which would determine if he has enough support to stay in power.
The greenback also edged lower against the pound, with GBP/USD easing up 0.07% to hit 1.6066.
A report earlier showed that manufacturing output in the U.K. rose slightly more-than-expected in September, but industrial output was unexpectedly flat.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY dipping 0.05% to hit 78.00, and USD/CHF shedding 0.36% to hit 0.8972.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Swiss consumer confidence fell more-than-expected in October, dropping to the lowest level since July 2009 amid concerns over the economic impact of the persistently strong Swiss franc.
Meanwhile, the greenback was higher against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD rising 0.24% to hit 1.0150, AUD/USD shedding 0.44% to hit 1.0331 and NZD/USD slipping 0.14% to hit 0.7958.
In Australia, official data showed that the country's trade surplus expanded less-than-expected in September, rising to AUD2.56 billion after a reading of AUD2.95 the previous month.
Analysts had expected a trade surplus of AUD3.02 billion in September.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.10% to hit 77.06.
Later Tuesday, finance ministers from the European Union member states were to meet in Brussels to discuss the region’s ongoing financial crisis.