Investing.com - The dollar gained ground against the other major currencies on Thursday after official data showed that U.S. initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level since January 2008 last week.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar rose to session highs against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding 0.16% to 1.3128.
The Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 8,000 to 335,000.
The pound pulled back from session highs against the dollar, with GBP/USD edging up 0.05% to 1.5540, down from 1.5588.
The Bank of England left interest rates at a record low 0.5% and maintained the size of its asset purchase program at GBP375 billion on Thursday.
The pound hit session highs against the dollar earlier after official data showed that U.K. industrial and manufacturing output beat expectations in March, fuelling optimism over the economic recovery.
The dollar pared losses against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.15% to 98.85, up from 98.65. The dollar pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF rising 0.13% to 0.9365.
The greenback remained broadly lower against its Australian, New Zealand and Canadian counterparts, with AUD/USD up 0.40% to 1.0211, NZD/USD rising 0.61% to 0.8452 and USD/CAD edging up 0.04% to 1.0035.
Earlier Thursday, official data showed that the Australian economy added 50,100 jobs in April, far more than the expected 12,000 increase, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 5.5%.
Another report showed that the number of people employed in New Zealand rose by 1.7% in the first quarter, beating expectations for a 0.8% increase. The unemployment rate fell to a three year low of 6.2% from 6.9% in the fourth quarter.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.13% to 82.08.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar rose to session highs against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding 0.16% to 1.3128.
The Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 8,000 to 335,000.
The pound pulled back from session highs against the dollar, with GBP/USD edging up 0.05% to 1.5540, down from 1.5588.
The Bank of England left interest rates at a record low 0.5% and maintained the size of its asset purchase program at GBP375 billion on Thursday.
The pound hit session highs against the dollar earlier after official data showed that U.K. industrial and manufacturing output beat expectations in March, fuelling optimism over the economic recovery.
The dollar pared losses against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.15% to 98.85, up from 98.65. The dollar pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF rising 0.13% to 0.9365.
The greenback remained broadly lower against its Australian, New Zealand and Canadian counterparts, with AUD/USD up 0.40% to 1.0211, NZD/USD rising 0.61% to 0.8452 and USD/CAD edging up 0.04% to 1.0035.
Earlier Thursday, official data showed that the Australian economy added 50,100 jobs in April, far more than the expected 12,000 increase, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 5.5%.
Another report showed that the number of people employed in New Zealand rose by 1.7% in the first quarter, beating expectations for a 0.8% increase. The unemployment rate fell to a three year low of 6.2% from 6.9% in the fourth quarter.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.13% to 82.08.