Investing.com - The U.S. dollar was steady to lower against the other major currencies on Friday, as markets awaited the release of U.S. data later in the day, after upbeat U.S. economic reports on Thursday indicated that the nation's recovery is on track.
During European morning trade, the dollar was steady against the euro, with EUR/USD inching 0.05% higher to 1.3247.
The dollar strengthened broadly on Thursday after the Commerce Department said gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 2.5% in the three months to June, above expectations for growth of 2.2% and up from a preliminary estimate of 1.7%.
In a separate report, the Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 331,000 last week, the lowest level since October 2007 last week, compared to forecasts for a decline of 5,000.
In the euro zone, official data showed that consumer price inflation ticked down to an annualized rate of 1.3% in August, from 1.6% in July, compared to expectations for a slip to 1.4%.
A separate report showed that the unemployment rate in the euro zone remained unchanged at 12.1% in July, in line with expectations.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that German retail sales dropped 1.4% last month, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise. June's figure was revised up to a 0.8% decline from a previously estimated 1.5% fall.
The greenback was also steady against the pound, with GBP/USD adding 0.06% to 1.5495.
In a report, the Bank of England said that net lending to individuals fell to GBP1.3 billion in July, from GBP1.4 billion the previous month, disappointing expectations for a rise to GBP1.7 billion.
Separately, data showed that house price inflation in the U.K. rose 0.6% in August, in line with expectations.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY falling 0.22% to trade at 98.12, and with USD/CHF edging down 0.12% to 0.9299.
Markit research group said Japan's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 52.2 in August, from a reading of 50.7 the previous month.
A preliminary report also showed that industrial production in Japan rose 3.2% in July, less than the expected 3.7% increase, after a 3.1% decline the previous month.
Data also showed that consumer price inflation in Japan rose to an annualized rate of 0.7% last month, from 0.4% in June, compared to expectations for an uptick to 0.6%.
Household spending in Japan rose by an annualized rate of 0.1% in July, official data showed, compared to expectations for a 0.3% rise, following a 0.4% decline the previous month.
The greenback was little changed against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD easing 0.05% to 1.0529, AUD/USD dipping 0.01% to 0.8930 and NZD/USD inching 0.01% higher to 0.7771.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.01% to 82.00.
Investors remained cautious amid concerns over an impending U.S.-led military strike against Syria, following the alleged use of chemical weapons.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on manufacturing activity in Chicago and revised data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment, as well as data on personal income and personal spending.
During European morning trade, the dollar was steady against the euro, with EUR/USD inching 0.05% higher to 1.3247.
The dollar strengthened broadly on Thursday after the Commerce Department said gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 2.5% in the three months to June, above expectations for growth of 2.2% and up from a preliminary estimate of 1.7%.
In a separate report, the Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 331,000 last week, the lowest level since October 2007 last week, compared to forecasts for a decline of 5,000.
In the euro zone, official data showed that consumer price inflation ticked down to an annualized rate of 1.3% in August, from 1.6% in July, compared to expectations for a slip to 1.4%.
A separate report showed that the unemployment rate in the euro zone remained unchanged at 12.1% in July, in line with expectations.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that German retail sales dropped 1.4% last month, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise. June's figure was revised up to a 0.8% decline from a previously estimated 1.5% fall.
The greenback was also steady against the pound, with GBP/USD adding 0.06% to 1.5495.
In a report, the Bank of England said that net lending to individuals fell to GBP1.3 billion in July, from GBP1.4 billion the previous month, disappointing expectations for a rise to GBP1.7 billion.
Separately, data showed that house price inflation in the U.K. rose 0.6% in August, in line with expectations.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY falling 0.22% to trade at 98.12, and with USD/CHF edging down 0.12% to 0.9299.
Markit research group said Japan's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 52.2 in August, from a reading of 50.7 the previous month.
A preliminary report also showed that industrial production in Japan rose 3.2% in July, less than the expected 3.7% increase, after a 3.1% decline the previous month.
Data also showed that consumer price inflation in Japan rose to an annualized rate of 0.7% last month, from 0.4% in June, compared to expectations for an uptick to 0.6%.
Household spending in Japan rose by an annualized rate of 0.1% in July, official data showed, compared to expectations for a 0.3% rise, following a 0.4% decline the previous month.
The greenback was little changed against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD easing 0.05% to 1.0529, AUD/USD dipping 0.01% to 0.8930 and NZD/USD inching 0.01% higher to 0.7771.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.01% to 82.00.
Investors remained cautious amid concerns over an impending U.S.-led military strike against Syria, following the alleged use of chemical weapons.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on manufacturing activity in Chicago and revised data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment, as well as data on personal income and personal spending.