Investing.com - The dollar was higher against the other major currencies on Friday, as investors awaited the release of key U.S. employment data later in the day, amid growing expectations for the Federal Reserve to soon begin tapering its bond purchases.
During European morning trade, the euro was steady against the dollar with EUR/USD down 0.01% at 1.3417.
The euro remained under pressure after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi confirmed on Thursday that the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low 0.25% from 0.5%, saying the decision was 'in line' with the ECB's forward guidance on interest rate policy from July.
The bank cut its marginal lending to 0.75% from 1% and left its deposit facility rate unchanged at 0.0%.
Draghi reiterated that euro zone borrowing costs will remain at their present or lower levels until conditions improve, indicating that further rate cuts are still possible.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR18.8 billion in September, from EUR15.8 billion the previous month, which was revised up from EUR15.6 billion. Analysts had expected the trade surplus to narrow to EUR15.5 billion in September.
Separately, France’s credit rating was lowered to AA from AA+ by Standard & Poor's. The ratings company said slower growth will constrain the government’s ability to improve public finances.
The greenback edged higher against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.14% at 1.6074.
Official data earlier showed that the U.K. trade deficit widened to GBP9.82 billion in September, from GBP9.56 billion the previous month, which had been revised from a previously estimated deficit of GBP9.63 billion.
Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to GBP9.20 billion in September.
The dollar was higher against the yen and the Swiss franc with USD/JPY adding 0.13% at 98.21, and with USD/CHF up 0.14% at 0.9170.
In Switzerland, official data showed that retail sales rose 1% in September from a year earlier, less than the expected 2.5% increase, after an upwardly revised 2.5% advance in August.
The dollar was higher against its cousins in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with USD/CAD up 0.07% at 1.0465, AUD/USD inching 0.01% lower at 0.9453 and NZD/USD ticking down 0.07% at 0.8319.
The Aussie came under pressure after the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's October policy meeting showed that the bank forecast below-trend growth and rising unemployment in 2014, signalling the possibility for further rate cuts in the future.
The export-related currencies found some support after data earlier showed that China's exports rose 5.6% in October from a year earlier while imports increased 7.6%, resulting in a USD31.1 billion trade surplus.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.09% at 80.99.
Later in the day, the University of Michigan was to release the preliminary reading of its consumer sentiment index. The U.S. was also to report government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.
During European morning trade, the euro was steady against the dollar with EUR/USD down 0.01% at 1.3417.
The euro remained under pressure after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi confirmed on Thursday that the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low 0.25% from 0.5%, saying the decision was 'in line' with the ECB's forward guidance on interest rate policy from July.
The bank cut its marginal lending to 0.75% from 1% and left its deposit facility rate unchanged at 0.0%.
Draghi reiterated that euro zone borrowing costs will remain at their present or lower levels until conditions improve, indicating that further rate cuts are still possible.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR18.8 billion in September, from EUR15.8 billion the previous month, which was revised up from EUR15.6 billion. Analysts had expected the trade surplus to narrow to EUR15.5 billion in September.
Separately, France’s credit rating was lowered to AA from AA+ by Standard & Poor's. The ratings company said slower growth will constrain the government’s ability to improve public finances.
The greenback edged higher against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.14% at 1.6074.
Official data earlier showed that the U.K. trade deficit widened to GBP9.82 billion in September, from GBP9.56 billion the previous month, which had been revised from a previously estimated deficit of GBP9.63 billion.
Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to GBP9.20 billion in September.
The dollar was higher against the yen and the Swiss franc with USD/JPY adding 0.13% at 98.21, and with USD/CHF up 0.14% at 0.9170.
In Switzerland, official data showed that retail sales rose 1% in September from a year earlier, less than the expected 2.5% increase, after an upwardly revised 2.5% advance in August.
The dollar was higher against its cousins in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with USD/CAD up 0.07% at 1.0465, AUD/USD inching 0.01% lower at 0.9453 and NZD/USD ticking down 0.07% at 0.8319.
The Aussie came under pressure after the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's October policy meeting showed that the bank forecast below-trend growth and rising unemployment in 2014, signalling the possibility for further rate cuts in the future.
The export-related currencies found some support after data earlier showed that China's exports rose 5.6% in October from a year earlier while imports increased 7.6%, resulting in a USD31.1 billion trade surplus.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.09% at 80.99.
Later in the day, the University of Michigan was to release the preliminary reading of its consumer sentiment index. The U.S. was also to report government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.