Investing.com - The dollar pushed broadly higher against the other major currencies on Thursday, as the release of disappointing U.S. jobless claims data added to concerns over the strength of the global economic recovery following mixed manufacturing activity reports from the euro zone.
During European afternoon trade, EUR/USD declined 0.84% to 1.3643.
Demand for the safe-haven dollar strengthened after the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending December 28 declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000.
Analysts had expected U.S. jobless claims to fall by 7,000 to 334,000 last week from the previous week’s revised total of 341,000.
In the euro zone, Markit research group said its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the bloc remained unchanged at 52.7 last month, in line with expectations.
A separate report showed that Germany's manufacturing PMI rose to a 30-month high of 54.3 in December, from a reading of 54.2 the previous month. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged last month.
France's manufacturing PMI fell to a seven-month low of 47.0 in December, from 47.1 in November, compared to expectations for the index to remain unchanged.
The pound dropped against the dollar, with GBP/USD down 0.50% to 1.6478.
Markit also said the U.K. manufacturing PMI fell to 57.3 last month from a reading of 58.1 in November. Analysts had expected the manufacturing PMI to ease down to 58.0 in December.
Elsewhere, the greenback was steady, near five-year highs, against the yen, with USD/JPY easing 0.04% to 105.25 and rose against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF jumping 1.02% to 0.9013.
The greenback was broadly higher against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD down 0.67% to 0.8864, NZD/USD retreating 0.77% to 0.8162 and USD/CAD up 0.09% to 1.0630.
The export-related currencies came under pressure after a report earlier showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.64% to 80.81.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release a report on manufacturing activity in the U.S.
During European afternoon trade, EUR/USD declined 0.84% to 1.3643.
Demand for the safe-haven dollar strengthened after the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending December 28 declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000.
Analysts had expected U.S. jobless claims to fall by 7,000 to 334,000 last week from the previous week’s revised total of 341,000.
In the euro zone, Markit research group said its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the bloc remained unchanged at 52.7 last month, in line with expectations.
A separate report showed that Germany's manufacturing PMI rose to a 30-month high of 54.3 in December, from a reading of 54.2 the previous month. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged last month.
France's manufacturing PMI fell to a seven-month low of 47.0 in December, from 47.1 in November, compared to expectations for the index to remain unchanged.
The pound dropped against the dollar, with GBP/USD down 0.50% to 1.6478.
Markit also said the U.K. manufacturing PMI fell to 57.3 last month from a reading of 58.1 in November. Analysts had expected the manufacturing PMI to ease down to 58.0 in December.
Elsewhere, the greenback was steady, near five-year highs, against the yen, with USD/JPY easing 0.04% to 105.25 and rose against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF jumping 1.02% to 0.9013.
The greenback was broadly higher against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD down 0.67% to 0.8864, NZD/USD retreating 0.77% to 0.8162 and USD/CAD up 0.09% to 1.0630.
The export-related currencies came under pressure after a report earlier showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.64% to 80.81.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release a report on manufacturing activity in the U.S.