Investing.com – The U.S. dollar was broadly lower against its major counterparts on Thursday, following the release of mixed U.S. data and amid speculation that the European Central Bank was buying the bonds of peripheral euro zone nations.
During European late afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD climbing 0.17% to hit 1.3164.
Earlier Thursday, ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet said that the bank’s bond purchase program "is ongoing." Analysts had expected he would announce a sharp increase in its size.
But the greenback was up against the pound with GBP/USD shedding 0.43% to hit 1.5552. Earlier Thursday, data showed that the U.K. construction PMI rose unexpectedly in November.
The greenback was down against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY shedding 0.30% to hit 83.93 and USD/CHF tumbling 0.84% to hit 0.9938.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Swiss gross domestic product increased more-than-expected in the third quarter. A separate report showed that retail sales in Switzerland rose less-than-expected in October.
Elsewhere, official data showed that Japanese capital spending rose 4.8% in the second quarter, increasing for the first time in over three years.
Meanwhile, the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts with USD/CAD plunging 1.17% to hit 1.0049, AUD/USD advancing 0.45% to hit 0.9725 and NZD/USD climbing 0.44% to hit 0.7520.
Also Thursday, official data showed that Australian retail sales fell unexpectedly in October.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.37%.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales index surged by 10.4% in October. Analysts had expected the pending home sales index to decline by 0.9% in October.
Meanwhile, a separate report showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose more-than-expected.
During European late afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD climbing 0.17% to hit 1.3164.
Earlier Thursday, ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet said that the bank’s bond purchase program "is ongoing." Analysts had expected he would announce a sharp increase in its size.
But the greenback was up against the pound with GBP/USD shedding 0.43% to hit 1.5552. Earlier Thursday, data showed that the U.K. construction PMI rose unexpectedly in November.
The greenback was down against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY shedding 0.30% to hit 83.93 and USD/CHF tumbling 0.84% to hit 0.9938.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Swiss gross domestic product increased more-than-expected in the third quarter. A separate report showed that retail sales in Switzerland rose less-than-expected in October.
Elsewhere, official data showed that Japanese capital spending rose 4.8% in the second quarter, increasing for the first time in over three years.
Meanwhile, the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts with USD/CAD plunging 1.17% to hit 1.0049, AUD/USD advancing 0.45% to hit 0.9725 and NZD/USD climbing 0.44% to hit 0.7520.
Also Thursday, official data showed that Australian retail sales fell unexpectedly in October.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.37%.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales index surged by 10.4% in October. Analysts had expected the pending home sales index to decline by 0.9% in October.
Meanwhile, a separate report showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose more-than-expected.