Investing.com - The euro fell against the dollar on Thursday even after U.S. jobless claims dipped less than expected, as lackluster factor figures out of China sparked safe-haven demand for the greenback.
In U.S. trading, EUR/USD hit 1.3666, down 0.67%, up from a session low of 1.3630 and off a high of 1.3775.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3625, the low from Dec. 20, and resistance at 1.3819, Monday's high.
The greenback strengthened earlier even after 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.
Elsewhere, the Institute for Supply Management reported that its purchasing managers' index dipped to 57.0 last month from 57.3 in November, in line with expectations.
Meanwhile in the euro zone, the London-based Markit Economics research group said its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the bloc remained unchanged at 52.7 last month, in line with expectations.
A separate report showed that Germany's manufacturing PMI rose to a 30-month high of 54.3 in December from 54.2 in November, beating consensus forecasts for an unchanged reading.
France's manufacturing PMI fell to a seven-month low of 47.0 in December, from 47.1 in November, compared to expectations for the index to remain unchanged.
Risk sentiment took a hit after a report showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November, which bolstered the greenback's safe-haven appeal.
The data came a day after a government report 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.
The euro was up against the pound, with EUR/GBP gaining 0.08% to 0.8315, and down against the yen, with EUR/JPY trading down 1.04% 143.34.
In U.S. trading, EUR/USD hit 1.3666, down 0.67%, up from a session low of 1.3630 and off a high of 1.3775.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3625, the low from Dec. 20, and resistance at 1.3819, Monday's high.
The greenback strengthened earlier even after 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.
Elsewhere, the Institute for Supply Management reported that its purchasing managers' index dipped to 57.0 last month from 57.3 in November, in line with expectations.
Meanwhile in the euro zone, the London-based Markit Economics research group said its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the bloc remained unchanged at 52.7 last month, in line with expectations.
A separate report showed that Germany's manufacturing PMI rose to a 30-month high of 54.3 in December from 54.2 in November, beating consensus forecasts for an unchanged reading.
France's manufacturing PMI fell to a seven-month low of 47.0 in December, from 47.1 in November, compared to expectations for the index to remain unchanged.
Risk sentiment took a hit after a report showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November, which bolstered the greenback's safe-haven appeal.
The data came a day after a government report 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.
The euro was up against the pound, with EUR/GBP gaining 0.08% to 0.8315, and down against the yen, with EUR/JPY trading down 1.04% 143.34.