Investing.com - The Aussie ticked higher in Asia early Thursday with a light data day ahead.
AUD/USD traded at 0.7213, up 0.04%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 119.91, down 0.01%.
In Australia, the NAB quarterly business confidence survey is due.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was flat at 95.08.
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.