Investing.com - The dollar pared losses against the yen on Thursday after data showed that U.S. initial jobless claims fell sharply last week, to hit the lowest level since 2006.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar pulled back from session lows against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.28% to 99.61, after falling as low as 99.21 earlier.
The Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. fell by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 292,000 from 323,000 in the previous week.
However, the report said the decline was largely due to two states not processing all claims received because of computer upgrades.
Elsewhere, the euro was close to session lows against the dollar, with EUR/USD losing 0.26% to trade at 1.3274.
The euro came under pressure earlier after data showed that industrial production in the euro area fell 1.5% in July, worse than expectations for a 0.1% decline. On a year-over-year basis industrial production fell 2.1%, more than forecasts for a 0.1% decline.
The pound was supported close to seven-month highs against the dollar, with GBP/USD slipping 0.11% to 1.5800.
Earlier Thursday, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the U.K. economy is picking up as a result of the bank’s stimulus program. The comments came during testimony to parliament’s Treasury Select Committee.
The dollar pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF rising 0.15% to 0.9319.
Elsewhere, the greenback was mixed against its Australian, New Zealand and Canadian counterparts, with AUD/USD dropping 0.86% to 0.9247, NZD/USD advancing 0.56% to 0.8127 and USD/CAD edging up 0.03% to 1.0322.
The Australian dollar fell sharply after data showed that the Australian economy unexpectedly cut 10,800 jobs in August and the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8% in August, from 5.7% the previous month.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand dollar was boosted after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand left interest rates unchanged at 2.5% and said rate hikes are likely to be required next year.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.12% to 81.81.
During European afternoon trade, the dollar pulled back from session lows against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.28% to 99.61, after falling as low as 99.21 earlier.
The Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. fell by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 292,000 from 323,000 in the previous week.
However, the report said the decline was largely due to two states not processing all claims received because of computer upgrades.
Elsewhere, the euro was close to session lows against the dollar, with EUR/USD losing 0.26% to trade at 1.3274.
The euro came under pressure earlier after data showed that industrial production in the euro area fell 1.5% in July, worse than expectations for a 0.1% decline. On a year-over-year basis industrial production fell 2.1%, more than forecasts for a 0.1% decline.
The pound was supported close to seven-month highs against the dollar, with GBP/USD slipping 0.11% to 1.5800.
Earlier Thursday, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the U.K. economy is picking up as a result of the bank’s stimulus program. The comments came during testimony to parliament’s Treasury Select Committee.
The dollar pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF rising 0.15% to 0.9319.
Elsewhere, the greenback was mixed against its Australian, New Zealand and Canadian counterparts, with AUD/USD dropping 0.86% to 0.9247, NZD/USD advancing 0.56% to 0.8127 and USD/CAD edging up 0.03% to 1.0322.
The Australian dollar fell sharply after data showed that the Australian economy unexpectedly cut 10,800 jobs in August and the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8% in August, from 5.7% the previous month.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand dollar was boosted after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand left interest rates unchanged at 2.5% and said rate hikes are likely to be required next year.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.12% to 81.81.