Investing.com - The dollar was broadly higher against a basket of other major currencies on Wednesday, as Tuesday's downbeat data from the euro zone fuelled further concerns over the bloc's outlook for growth, supporting demand for the safe-haven greenback.
EUR/USD was little changed at 1.2655 as market sentiment remained under pressure amid growing concerns over the outlook for growth in the euro zone after data on Tuesday showed that the bloc's industrial production declined more than expected in August, while July's figure was revised down.
A separate report showed that German economic sentiment deteriorated to the lowest level since December 2012 in October, fuelling further concerns over the euro zone's largest economy.
The pound held steady near 11-month lows, with GBP/USD at 1.5904, after data showed that the U.K. claimant count declined less than expected in August, although the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level since October 2008.
The U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by 18,600 last month, compared to expectations for a decline of 35,000 people. August’s figure was revised to a drop of 33,200 people from a previously reported decline of 37,200.
The report also showed that the rate of unemployment declined to 6.0% in the three months to August, compared to expectations for a reading of 6.1% and down from 6.2% in the three months to July.
The yen was lower, with USD/JPY adding 0.14% to trade at 107.20, while the Swiss franc was almost unchanged, with USD/CHF at 0.9541.
The commodity linked dollars were mixed, with AUD/USD edgng up 0.14% to 0.8725 and NZD/USD little changed at 0.7838, while USD/CAD gained 0.60% to 1.1366.
Earlier Wednesday, the Westpac Banking Corporation said its index of consumer sentiment for Australia rose 0.9% this month after a 4.6% decline in September.
A separate report showed that new motor vehicles in Australia increased by 2.9% in September after a 1.6% decline in August, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 1.8% fall.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was up 0.11% to 86.00.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release data on retail sales, as well as reports on producer prices and manufacturing activity in the New York region.