Investing.com - The dollar remained steady to lower against the other major currencies on Friday, after data showed that U.S. consumer sentiment improved more than expected this month, while geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine continued to weigh.
The dollar was steady against the euro, with EUR/USD inching up 0.06% to 1.3840.
In a revised report, the University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index rose to a nine-month high of 84.1 in April, from a reading of 82.6 in March. Analysts had expected the index to rise to 83.0 this month.
The University of Michigan also said inflation expectations for the next 12 months ticked up to 3.2% in April, from the previous month's estimate of 3.1%.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious amid renewed tensions in Eastern Europe, after Ukrainian troops killed several pro-Russian rebels on Thursday, and Russian troops started military exercises close to its border with Ukraine.
In response, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington was drawing closer to imposing more sanctions on Moscow.
Sentiment on the single currency also remained vulnerable after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Thursday said the euro exchange rate is an "increasingly important factor" in monetary policy.
The pound was little changed against the dollar, with GBP/USD adding 0.05% to 1.6812.
Official data earlier showed that U.K. retail sales rose 0.1% in March, beaing expectations for a 0.4% fall. Retail sales in February were revised down to a 1.3% increase from a previously estimated 1.7% gain.
A separate report showed that U.K. mortgage approvals rose by 45,900 last month, compared to expectations for an increase of 48,900. February's mortgage approvals were revised down to a 47,200 rise from a previously estimated 47,600 increase.
The dollar was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY shedding 0.27% to 102.04 and with USD/CHF slipping 0.11% to 0.8807.
Official data showed that Tokyo's consumer price inflation, which excludes fresh food, rose 2.7% this month from a year earlier, below expectations for a 2.8% increase, after a 1% gain the previous month.
Japan's national core consumer price inflation rose 1.3% in April compared to the same time a year earlier, confounding expectations for a 1.4% gain, after a 1.3% increase in March.
The greenback was steady to lower against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD rising 0.23% to 0.9284, NZD/USD gaining 0.27% to 0.8587 and USD/CAD inching 0.05% higher to 1.1029.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.08% to 79.79.