Investing.com – The U.S. dollar was broadly lower against its major rivals on Thursday, after official data showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose less-than-expected.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD soaring 0.79% to hit 1.3638.
Earlier Thursday, Irish Central bank Governor Patrick Honohan said that he expected the country to receive tens of billions of euros in loans from the EU and the IMF to help recapitalize the country’s stricken banking sector.
The greenback was also down against the pound with GBP/USD climbing 0.61% to hit 1.6005.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that retail sales in the U.K. increased more-than-expected in October, rising for the first time in three months while a separate report said that public sector net borrowing fell less-than-expected in October.
In addition, the greenback was down against Swiss franc, with USD/CHF shedding 0.42% to hit 0.9873. Earlier in the day, official data showed that Switzerland’s trade surplus increased unexpectedly in October.
Elsewhere the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD falling 0.68% to hit 1.0176, AUD/USD soaring 0.81% to hit 0.9877 and NZD/USD surging 0.80% to hit 0.7763.
But the greenback was up against the yen, with USD/JPY advancing 0.14% to hit 83.29.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.71%.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending November 13 rose to a seasonally adjusted 439K, after rising to an upwardly revised 437K in the preceding week. Analysts had expected initial jobless claims to rise to 442K in the week ending November 13.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia was due to release a report on manufacturing activity.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD soaring 0.79% to hit 1.3638.
Earlier Thursday, Irish Central bank Governor Patrick Honohan said that he expected the country to receive tens of billions of euros in loans from the EU and the IMF to help recapitalize the country’s stricken banking sector.
The greenback was also down against the pound with GBP/USD climbing 0.61% to hit 1.6005.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that retail sales in the U.K. increased more-than-expected in October, rising for the first time in three months while a separate report said that public sector net borrowing fell less-than-expected in October.
In addition, the greenback was down against Swiss franc, with USD/CHF shedding 0.42% to hit 0.9873. Earlier in the day, official data showed that Switzerland’s trade surplus increased unexpectedly in October.
Elsewhere the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD falling 0.68% to hit 1.0176, AUD/USD soaring 0.81% to hit 0.9877 and NZD/USD surging 0.80% to hit 0.7763.
But the greenback was up against the yen, with USD/JPY advancing 0.14% to hit 83.29.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.71%.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending November 13 rose to a seasonally adjusted 439K, after rising to an upwardly revised 437K in the preceding week. Analysts had expected initial jobless claims to rise to 442K in the week ending November 13.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia was due to release a report on manufacturing activity.