Investing.com - The dollar pushed broadly lower against the other major currencies on Thursday, even after data showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell to a six-week low.
The U.S. Department of Labor said initial jobless claims in the week ending September 3 decreased by 4,000 to 259,000 from the previous week’s total of 263,000. Analysts expected jobless claims to rise by 2,000 to 265,000 last week.
Sentiment on the greenback remained vulnerable after downbeat U.S. employment data published last Friday crushed expectations for an upcoming rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
EUR/USD gained 0.45% to 1.1289, the highest since August 26.
At the conclusion of its policy meeting, the European Central Bank said it was maintaining its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.0%, in line with market expectations. The central bank also held its deposit facility rate unchanged at-0.4% and left its marginal lending at 0.25%.
Additionally, the ECB kept the size of its monthly quantitative easing program at approximately €80 billion. The central bank reiterated that it is prepared to expand its monthly asset-purchase program beyond March 2017 if needed.
Market participants were still waiting for comments by ECB President Mario Draghi.
GBP/USD was little changed at 1.3345.
USD/JPY held steady at 101.74, while USD/CHF slid 0.30% to trade at 0.9668.
In Japan, final data showed that gross domestic product rose 0.2% in the second quarter, above expectations for a flat reading.
The Australian dollar was stronger, with AUD/USD up 0.69% at 0.7726, while NZD/USD held steady at 0.7454.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics earlier reported that the trade deficit narrowed to A$2.410 billion in July from A$3.250 billion in June, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated deficit of A$3.195 billion.
Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to A$2.750 billion in July.
Elsewhere, USD/CAD edged 0.12% lower to 1.2870.
Statistics Canada reported that building permits rose 0.8% in July, compared to expectations for a 0.3% gain. Building permits dropped 5.3% in June, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 5.5% decline.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.41% at 94.58, the lowest since August 26.