Investing.com - The U.S. dollar was mixed against its major rivals during Friday’s Asian session following a raft of data points and central bank commentary.
In Asian trading Friday, EUR/USD nudged down 0.04% to 1.3415 after the European Central Bank surprisingly lowered interest rates to a record-low 0.25% from 0.5%. The bank also cut its marginal lending rate to 0.75% from 1% and left its deposit facility rate unchanged at zero.
ECB President Mario Draghi said euro zone borrowing costs will remain at present or even lower levels until the economy improves, adding that the euro zone may experience "a prolonged period of low inflation."
USD/JPY rose 0.12% to 98.22.
GBP/USD inched up 0.01% to 1.6099 after the Bank of England voted to leave rates on hold at 0.5% and made no changes to the GBP375 billion quantitative easing stimulus package.
The announcement came after economic data earlier this week added to indications that the recovery in the U.K. is deepening.
A report on Wednesday showed that industrial production in the U.K. rose 0.9% in September, compared to expectations for a 0.5% increase and was 2.2% higher than in the same month last year.
Another report showed that Britain’s dominant services sector expanded at the fastest rate in 16 years in October, boosting the outlook for fourth quarter growth.
USD/CHF rose 0.11% to 0.9168 while USD/CAD fell 0.06% to 1.0453 as oil prices traded higher.
In U.S. economic news out Thursday, the Commerce Department said the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8% in the three months to September, far surpassing expectations for a 2.0% reading. The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% in the preceding quarter.
Separately, the Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the U.S. last week fell by 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 336,000, largely in line with analysts' forecasts for a claims to fall by 10,000.
AUD/USD inched up 0.01% to 0.9456 while NZD/USD rose 0.05% to 0.8330. The U.S. Dollar Index added 0.05% to 80.95.
In Asian trading Friday, EUR/USD nudged down 0.04% to 1.3415 after the European Central Bank surprisingly lowered interest rates to a record-low 0.25% from 0.5%. The bank also cut its marginal lending rate to 0.75% from 1% and left its deposit facility rate unchanged at zero.
ECB President Mario Draghi said euro zone borrowing costs will remain at present or even lower levels until the economy improves, adding that the euro zone may experience "a prolonged period of low inflation."
USD/JPY rose 0.12% to 98.22.
GBP/USD inched up 0.01% to 1.6099 after the Bank of England voted to leave rates on hold at 0.5% and made no changes to the GBP375 billion quantitative easing stimulus package.
The announcement came after economic data earlier this week added to indications that the recovery in the U.K. is deepening.
A report on Wednesday showed that industrial production in the U.K. rose 0.9% in September, compared to expectations for a 0.5% increase and was 2.2% higher than in the same month last year.
Another report showed that Britain’s dominant services sector expanded at the fastest rate in 16 years in October, boosting the outlook for fourth quarter growth.
USD/CHF rose 0.11% to 0.9168 while USD/CAD fell 0.06% to 1.0453 as oil prices traded higher.
In U.S. economic news out Thursday, the Commerce Department said the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8% in the three months to September, far surpassing expectations for a 2.0% reading. The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% in the preceding quarter.
Separately, the Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the U.S. last week fell by 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 336,000, largely in line with analysts' forecasts for a claims to fall by 10,000.
AUD/USD inched up 0.01% to 0.9456 while NZD/USD rose 0.05% to 0.8330. The U.S. Dollar Index added 0.05% to 80.95.