Investing.com - The U.S. dollar traded higher against most of its major rivals during Thursday’s Asian session as traders continued to embrace the greenback as a safe-haven amid escalating tensions related to the situation in Syria.
In Asian trading Thursday, EUR/USD fell 0.06% to 1.3332. Data out Wednesday showed the Gfk German consumer climate index edged down to 6.9 in August from 7.0 in July. Analysts were expecting the index to rise to 7.1 this month. Germany is the euro zone’s largest economy.
GBP/USD inched down 0.02% to 1.5524 after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said monetary authorities were ready to boost stimulus programs if investor expectations for higher interest rates reach the point that they undermine the U.K.'s economic recovery.
Earlier in the month, Carney said BoE policy makers plan to keep the benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.5% for at least three years though improving U.K. economic indicators have many betting that rates may rise sooner than expected.
USD/JPY rose 0.18% to 97.82 after the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry said that Japanese retail sales fell 0.3% last month following a 1.6% gain in June. That was still better than the drop of 0.6% for July economists expected.
USD/CHF added 0.07% to 0.9229 while USD/CAD rose 0.06% to 1.0495. British Prime Minister David Cameron drafted a United Nations resolution condemning the use of chemical weapons in Syria while "authorizing necessary measures to protect civilians" on Wednesday.
The U.N. Security Council was studying draft language, and with a veto possibly to come from Syrian allies Russia and China resulting in a deadlock, U.S. and U.K. policymakers may look beyond diplomatic deadlocks and seek ways to justify military strikes without a U.N. mandate.
AUD/USD rose 0.16% to 0.8956 while NZD/USD advanced 0.33% to 0.7826. In U.S. economic news out Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors said that its pending sales index fell for July 1.3% from June. That is the second straight monthly drop. The pending home sales index was 109.5 last month. A reading of 100 is considered average or normal.
The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.09% to 81.51.
In Asian trading Thursday, EUR/USD fell 0.06% to 1.3332. Data out Wednesday showed the Gfk German consumer climate index edged down to 6.9 in August from 7.0 in July. Analysts were expecting the index to rise to 7.1 this month. Germany is the euro zone’s largest economy.
GBP/USD inched down 0.02% to 1.5524 after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said monetary authorities were ready to boost stimulus programs if investor expectations for higher interest rates reach the point that they undermine the U.K.'s economic recovery.
Earlier in the month, Carney said BoE policy makers plan to keep the benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.5% for at least three years though improving U.K. economic indicators have many betting that rates may rise sooner than expected.
USD/JPY rose 0.18% to 97.82 after the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry said that Japanese retail sales fell 0.3% last month following a 1.6% gain in June. That was still better than the drop of 0.6% for July economists expected.
USD/CHF added 0.07% to 0.9229 while USD/CAD rose 0.06% to 1.0495. British Prime Minister David Cameron drafted a United Nations resolution condemning the use of chemical weapons in Syria while "authorizing necessary measures to protect civilians" on Wednesday.
The U.N. Security Council was studying draft language, and with a veto possibly to come from Syrian allies Russia and China resulting in a deadlock, U.S. and U.K. policymakers may look beyond diplomatic deadlocks and seek ways to justify military strikes without a U.N. mandate.
AUD/USD rose 0.16% to 0.8956 while NZD/USD advanced 0.33% to 0.7826. In U.S. economic news out Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors said that its pending sales index fell for July 1.3% from June. That is the second straight monthly drop. The pending home sales index was 109.5 last month. A reading of 100 is considered average or normal.
The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.09% to 81.51.