Investing.com - The Aussie held gains on Thursday despite a downbeat business confidence survey
AUD/USD traded at 0.7218, up 0.12%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 119.89, down 0.03%.
In Australia, the NAB quarterly business confidence survey fell to flat from plus-4 in the previous quarter, while conditions gained to plus-11 from plus-5.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, fell 0.02% at 95.06.
Overnight, the dollar moved slightly higher against the other major currencies on Wednesday, as the previous session's U.S. housing sector data continued to support, while trading was expected to remain quiet with no major U.S. data to be released thoughout the day.
The greenback strengthened mildly after the U.S. Commerce Department reported on Tuesday that housing starts rose 6.5% to 1.206 million units last month from August’s total of 1.132 million units.
However, the report also showed that the number of building permits issued dropped by 5.0% to 1.103 million units from August’s total of 1.170 million.
Meanwhile, the single currency found some support ahead to the European Central Bank's policy meeting on Thursday amid speculation that it could flag plans to enlarge its stimulus program.