Investing.com – The U.S. dollar was mixed against its major counterparts on Thursday, as investors awaited a press conference by European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet after the bank raised interest rates for the first time since October 2008.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was up against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.40% to hit 1.4272.
Earlier in the day, the ECB hiked interest rates, lifting its key lending rate to 1.25% from a record low of 1.0% but concerns remained that the central bank’s head could dampen expectations for further monetary tightening this year.
The greenback was also higher against the pound, with GBP/USD slipping 0.17% to hit 1.6304.
Earlier Thursday, the Bank of England held interest rates steady at a record low of 0.5%.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc with USD/JPY shedding 0.36% to hit 85.17 and USD/CHF easing down 0.06% to hit 0.9183.
Earlier in the day, the Bank of Japan said it will offer JPY1 trillion in one-year loans for businesses hurt by the nation’s record earthquake and held the benchmark overnight rate in a range of zero to 0.1%.
Meanwhile, the greenback was lower against its Canadian and Australian counterparts but higher against its New Zealand cousin, with USD/CAD sliding 0.21% to hit 0.9585, AUD/USD climbing 0.42% to hit 1.0484 and NZD/USD slipping 0.19% to hit 0.7780.
Earlier Thursday, government data showed that Australian employment jumped by 37,800 in March, far exceeding expectations of a 22,000 rise. The rise in employment saw the jobless rate decline to its lowest level since December 2008.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.18%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish a weekly report on initial jobless claims.
During European afternoon trade, the greenback was up against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.40% to hit 1.4272.
Earlier in the day, the ECB hiked interest rates, lifting its key lending rate to 1.25% from a record low of 1.0% but concerns remained that the central bank’s head could dampen expectations for further monetary tightening this year.
The greenback was also higher against the pound, with GBP/USD slipping 0.17% to hit 1.6304.
Earlier Thursday, the Bank of England held interest rates steady at a record low of 0.5%.
Elsewhere, the greenback was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc with USD/JPY shedding 0.36% to hit 85.17 and USD/CHF easing down 0.06% to hit 0.9183.
Earlier in the day, the Bank of Japan said it will offer JPY1 trillion in one-year loans for businesses hurt by the nation’s record earthquake and held the benchmark overnight rate in a range of zero to 0.1%.
Meanwhile, the greenback was lower against its Canadian and Australian counterparts but higher against its New Zealand cousin, with USD/CAD sliding 0.21% to hit 0.9585, AUD/USD climbing 0.42% to hit 1.0484 and NZD/USD slipping 0.19% to hit 0.7780.
Earlier Thursday, government data showed that Australian employment jumped by 37,800 in March, far exceeding expectations of a 22,000 rise. The rise in employment saw the jobless rate decline to its lowest level since December 2008.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.18%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish a weekly report on initial jobless claims.