Investing.com - The euro came off session highs against the dollar on Tuesday after data showed that the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in September, matching the rate of growth seen in the previous month, which was the strongest in over four years.
EUR/USD was last up 0.06% to 1.2856, off the highs of 1.2901 reached earlier in the session.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.2815, Monday’s low and a 14 month trough and resistance at around 1.29.
The dollar was boosted after research group Markit reported that the preliminary reading of the U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 57.9 in September, unchanged from August’s reading and the highest since April 2010.
A separate report showed that the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s monthly manufacturing index rose to 14 this month from 12 in August.
The data added to the view that the solid economic recovery in the U.S. will prompt the Fed to hike interest rates sooner than markets expect.
Earlier Tuesday, data showed that output in the euro zone private sector grew at the slowest rate so far this year in September, adding to fears over the outlook for the recovery in the region.
The euro zone composite output index, which measures the combined output of both the manufacturing and service sectors slumped to a nine month low of 52.3 from 52.5 in August.
Germany’s private sector output continued to expand this month but growth in the manufacturing sector slowed to a 15 month low.
Private sector activity in France fell for the fifth consecutive month, as service sector activity declined for the first time in three months, offsetting a slower decline in manufacturing output.
The data indicated that the euro area economy is on track to grow by 0.3% in the third quarter, but signaled that growth could slow further in the fourth quarter.
The weak data fuelled expectations for additional stimulus measures from the European Central Bank to help shore up the recovery in the region.
Speaking Monday, ECB President Mario Draghi reiterated that the bank was prepared to ease monetary policy further should it become necessary to address the risks of a prolonged period of low inflation in the euro area.
Elsewhere, the single currency edged higher against the yen, with EUR/JPY inching up 0.09% to 139.95, off the day’s lows of 139.28.