Investing.com - The U.S. dollar extended losses against its major counterparts on Wednesday, as Greece appeared closer to a debt restructuring deal, while solid global manufacturing data eased concerns over the global outlook.
During U.S. morning trade, the dollar was lower against the euro, with EUR/USD rallying 0.87% to hit 1.3198.
The euro strengthened against the greenback earlier after data showed that the euro zone’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 48.8 from an earlier estimate of 46.9 in December, but the data showed that only Germany registered a reading above 50, indicating expansion.
The euro was also supported by hopes that negotiations with Greece’s creditors are very close to being concluded, but concerns have persisted that a debt swap deal with the country’s private bondholders will not go far enough to reduce the country’s debt load.
Meanwhile, Portugal saw bond yields fall at an auction of short-term government debt earlier, but yields on 10-year government bonds remained close to recent euro-era highs, amid worries that the country may also be forced to restructure its debt.
Earlier Wednesday, official data showed that China's manufacturing expanded slightly more than expected in January, soothing investor concerns over a hard landing in the world’s second largest economy.
The greenback was also down against the pound, with GBP/USD rising 0.63% to hit 1.5858.
In the U.K., data showed that the manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace in eight months in January, as output grew at the fastest rate in 10 months and new orders rose.
The greenback was trading close to a three-month low against the yen, with USD/JPY shedding 0.18% to hit 76.13, fanning concerns over the risk of an intervention by Japanese authorities to curb the appreciation of the yen.
The greenback was also lower against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF dropping 0.78% to hit 0.9130.
Official data released earlier Wednesday showed that Swiss retail sales rose less-than-expected in December, while manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracted in January, underlining expectations for weak growth in the Swiss economy in the coming months.
In addition, the greenback was weaker against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand cousins, with USD/CAD down 0.50% to hit 0.9973, AUD/USD jumping 1.03% to hit 1.0732 and NZD/USD gaining 0.89% to hit 0.8339.
In a speech earlier, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned exporters that the high level of the domestic currency was likely to continue in the long term.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, dropped 0.70% to hit 78.88.
In the U.S., the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing PMI rose to 54.1 in January, from a revised reading of 53.1 the previous month, slightly missing expectations for an increase to 54.5.
Another report showed that the U.S. private sector added fewer-than-expected jobs in January, while the previous month’s figure was revised down.
Payroll processing firm ADP said non-farm private employment rose by a seasonally adjusted 170,000 in January, falling short of expectations for an increase of 190,000.
The previous month’s figure was revised down to a gain of 292,000 from a previously reported increase of 325,000.
During U.S. morning trade, the dollar was lower against the euro, with EUR/USD rallying 0.87% to hit 1.3198.
The euro strengthened against the greenback earlier after data showed that the euro zone’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 48.8 from an earlier estimate of 46.9 in December, but the data showed that only Germany registered a reading above 50, indicating expansion.
The euro was also supported by hopes that negotiations with Greece’s creditors are very close to being concluded, but concerns have persisted that a debt swap deal with the country’s private bondholders will not go far enough to reduce the country’s debt load.
Meanwhile, Portugal saw bond yields fall at an auction of short-term government debt earlier, but yields on 10-year government bonds remained close to recent euro-era highs, amid worries that the country may also be forced to restructure its debt.
Earlier Wednesday, official data showed that China's manufacturing expanded slightly more than expected in January, soothing investor concerns over a hard landing in the world’s second largest economy.
The greenback was also down against the pound, with GBP/USD rising 0.63% to hit 1.5858.
In the U.K., data showed that the manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace in eight months in January, as output grew at the fastest rate in 10 months and new orders rose.
The greenback was trading close to a three-month low against the yen, with USD/JPY shedding 0.18% to hit 76.13, fanning concerns over the risk of an intervention by Japanese authorities to curb the appreciation of the yen.
The greenback was also lower against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF dropping 0.78% to hit 0.9130.
Official data released earlier Wednesday showed that Swiss retail sales rose less-than-expected in December, while manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracted in January, underlining expectations for weak growth in the Swiss economy in the coming months.
In addition, the greenback was weaker against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand cousins, with USD/CAD down 0.50% to hit 0.9973, AUD/USD jumping 1.03% to hit 1.0732 and NZD/USD gaining 0.89% to hit 0.8339.
In a speech earlier, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned exporters that the high level of the domestic currency was likely to continue in the long term.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, dropped 0.70% to hit 78.88.
In the U.S., the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing PMI rose to 54.1 in January, from a revised reading of 53.1 the previous month, slightly missing expectations for an increase to 54.5.
Another report showed that the U.S. private sector added fewer-than-expected jobs in January, while the previous month’s figure was revised down.
Payroll processing firm ADP said non-farm private employment rose by a seasonally adjusted 170,000 in January, falling short of expectations for an increase of 190,000.
The previous month’s figure was revised down to a gain of 292,000 from a previously reported increase of 325,000.