Investing.com – The dollar rose against a basket of major currencies Wednesday, shrugging mixed U.S. inflation data as the euro slipped on fresh signs of stuttering eurozone growth.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, rose 0.34% to 97.03.
The Labor Department said on Thursday its consumer price index was flat for January, after edging up 0.1% in the prior month. But core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 2.2% for the year through January, above forecasts for a 2.1% increase.
"The details of the report were mixed, but generally firm on net, with acceleration in the persistent shelter categories and further increases in the medical care services category," Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) said. "The CPI components relevant for the PCE report were on net firmer than we expected."
A 0.38% slip in the EUR/USD to $1.1282 also supported dollar strength as industrial production in the eurozone undershot economists' estimates, fueling investor concerns of an accelerated slowdown in the euro area.
GBP/USD fell 0.24% to $1.2861 as U.K. inflation data undershot economists' forecasts and Prime Minister Theresa May reiterated her government still planned to exit European Union on March 29.
Some had expected the U.K. would request the March deadline be extended to allow May more time to secure changes from the EU to the Irish backstop measure included in the withdrawal deal.
USD/JPY rose 0.41% to Y110.96, while USD/CAD rose 0.04%. The latter pair was supported by rise in oil prices after Saudi Arabia pledged to cut output.