Investing.com - The euro fell against the dollar on Friday after disappointing Chinese service-sector data steered investors away from risk and into safe-haven dollar positions.
In U.S. trading, EUR/USD was trading at 1.3605, down 0.48%, up from a session low of 1.3600 and off a high of 1.3674.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3524, the low from Dec. 3, and resistance at 1.3775, Thursday's high.
The greenback enjoyed safe-harbor demand after data showed that China's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 54.6 in December from 56.0 the previous month.
Also this week, data revealed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from 50.8 in November, which bolstered the greenback's safe-haven appeal.
That report came a day after government data showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
Investors also flocked to the dollar ahead of an appearance by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke later in the day.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending Dec. 28 declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000.
Analysts had expected U.S. jobless claims to fall by 7,000 to 334,000 last week from the previous week’s revised total of 341,000, though investors still applauded the decrease on Friday.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management reported that its U.S. purchasing managers' index dipped to 57.0 last month from 57.3 in November, in line with expectations.
The euro was down against the pound, with EUR/GBP slipping 0.32% to 0.8283, and down against the yen, with EUR/JPY trading down 0.81% 142.11.
In U.S. trading, EUR/USD was trading at 1.3605, down 0.48%, up from a session low of 1.3600 and off a high of 1.3674.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3524, the low from Dec. 3, and resistance at 1.3775, Thursday's high.
The greenback enjoyed safe-harbor demand after data showed that China's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 54.6 in December from 56.0 the previous month.
Also this week, data revealed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from 50.8 in November, which bolstered the greenback's safe-haven appeal.
That report came a day after government data showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
Investors also flocked to the dollar ahead of an appearance by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke later in the day.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending Dec. 28 declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000.
Analysts had expected U.S. jobless claims to fall by 7,000 to 334,000 last week from the previous week’s revised total of 341,000, though investors still applauded the decrease on Friday.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management reported that its U.S. purchasing managers' index dipped to 57.0 last month from 57.3 in November, in line with expectations.
The euro was down against the pound, with EUR/GBP slipping 0.32% to 0.8283, and down against the yen, with EUR/JPY trading down 0.81% 142.11.