Investing.com - The Aussie ticked higher in Asia on Thursday with investors focused on data sets in building approvals and trade ahead.
AUD/USD rose 0.09% to 0.7080, while USD/JPY changed hands at 118.65, up 0.12%.
In Australia, building approvals for November month-on-month likely fell 3.0%. Also on the slate are exports and imports for November and an overall trade balance seen at a deficit of A$3.1 billion.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, rose 0.03% to 99.30.
Overnight, the dollar held steady against the other major currencies on Wednesday, after the release of mixed U.S. economic reports as concerns over global geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on demand for riskier assets.
The Institute of Supply Management said its non-manufacturing purchasing manager's index fell to a 20-month low of 55.3 last month from 55.9 in November, missing forecasts for a reading of 56.0.
In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau said factory orders decreased by 0.2% in November, matching forecasts. The data came after payroll processing firm ADP reported that non-farm private employment rose by 257,000 last month, easily surpassing expectations for an increase of 192,000.
A separate report showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $42.37 billion in November from a revised deficit of $44.58 billion in October. Analysts had expected the U.S. trade deficit to narrow to $44.0 billion in November.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious after North Korea confirmed on Wednesday that it had conducted a nuclear test and said that it won't give up nuclear capability unless U.S. abandons its hostile foreign policy towards the country. Markets were also jittery amid growing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, following the execution of a prominent Saudi Shia cleric.