Investing.com – The U.S. dollar was down against most of the other major currencies on Wednesday, as market focus remained on the prospect of a fresh round of monetary easing measures by the Federal Reserve.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD advancing 0.2% to hit 1.3960 after official data showed that industrial production in the euro zone rose more-than-expected in August.
The greenback was also down against the pound with GBP/USD up 0.14% to hit 1.5831. Earlier in the day, official data showed that number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. rose more-than-expected in September, up for a second consecutive month, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined.
Elsewhere, the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD shedding 0.68% to hit 1.0031, AUD/USD gaining 0.48% to hit 0.9908 and NZD/USD soaring 0.86% to hit 0.7617.
Earlier Wednesday, official data showed that Canadian house prices rose unexpectedly in August.
But the greenback was up against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY rising 0.15% to hit 81.84 and USD/CHF gaining 0.18% to hit 0.9588.
Early Wednesday, the Governor of the Bank of Japan said that the yen’s strength hurt companies’ profits and confidence and added that the bank will keep monitoring the currency market “with great interest”.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.21%.
On Tuesday, the minutes of the September 21 meeting of Federal Open Market Committee showed that "many participants" believed "it would be appropriate to provide additional monetary policy accommodation" if unemployment remained too high or inflation too low.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was down against the euro, with EUR/USD advancing 0.2% to hit 1.3960 after official data showed that industrial production in the euro zone rose more-than-expected in August.
The greenback was also down against the pound with GBP/USD up 0.14% to hit 1.5831. Earlier in the day, official data showed that number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. rose more-than-expected in September, up for a second consecutive month, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined.
Elsewhere, the greenback was down against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD shedding 0.68% to hit 1.0031, AUD/USD gaining 0.48% to hit 0.9908 and NZD/USD soaring 0.86% to hit 0.7617.
Earlier Wednesday, official data showed that Canadian house prices rose unexpectedly in August.
But the greenback was up against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY rising 0.15% to hit 81.84 and USD/CHF gaining 0.18% to hit 0.9588.
Early Wednesday, the Governor of the Bank of Japan said that the yen’s strength hurt companies’ profits and confidence and added that the bank will keep monitoring the currency market “with great interest”.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.21%.
On Tuesday, the minutes of the September 21 meeting of Federal Open Market Committee showed that "many participants" believed "it would be appropriate to provide additional monetary policy accommodation" if unemployment remained too high or inflation too low.