Investing.com - The U.S. dollar was hovering close to a four-month high against the yen on Thursday, amid speculation over more easing by the Bank of Japan, but remained weaker against the pound following stronger-than-expected U.K. economic growth data earlier in the day.
In U.S. morning trade, the dollar was hovering close to a four-month high against the yen, with USD/JPY up 0.44% to 80.15.
The yen remained under broad selling pressure amid mounting speculation over the possibility of more easing by the BoJ at its upcoming policy meeting on October 30.
In the U.S., official data showed that durable goods orders, which include transportation items, jumped by a seasonally adjusted 9.9% in September, compared to expectations for a 7.1% gain.
Excluding volatile transportation items durable goods orders rose by a seasonally adjusted 2.0% last month, beating expectations for a 0.8% gain.
Separately, the Labor Department said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell to 369,000, from 392,000 the previous week, compared to expectations for a decrease to 370,000.
The greenback was near session lows against the pound, with GBP/USD up 0.51% to 1.6119.
Demand for the pound was boosted after official data showed that the U.K. economy expanded by 1.0% in the three months to September, pulling out of the longest double dip recession since 1955 and outstripping expectations for a 0.6% gain.
The greenback was higher against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding 0.21% to 1.2945, amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Spain will formally request a bailout.
The greenback pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF up 0.21% to 0.9343.
The greenback trimmed losses against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD easing up 0.10% to 0.9944, AUD/USD up just 0.06% to 1.0349 and NZD/USD inching up 0.02% to 0.8204.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, rose 0.15% to 80.12.
Also Thursday, a report by the National Association of Realtors showed that U.S. pending home sales rose by 0.3% in September, below expectations for a 2.1% gain.
In U.S. morning trade, the dollar was hovering close to a four-month high against the yen, with USD/JPY up 0.44% to 80.15.
The yen remained under broad selling pressure amid mounting speculation over the possibility of more easing by the BoJ at its upcoming policy meeting on October 30.
In the U.S., official data showed that durable goods orders, which include transportation items, jumped by a seasonally adjusted 9.9% in September, compared to expectations for a 7.1% gain.
Excluding volatile transportation items durable goods orders rose by a seasonally adjusted 2.0% last month, beating expectations for a 0.8% gain.
Separately, the Labor Department said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell to 369,000, from 392,000 the previous week, compared to expectations for a decrease to 370,000.
The greenback was near session lows against the pound, with GBP/USD up 0.51% to 1.6119.
Demand for the pound was boosted after official data showed that the U.K. economy expanded by 1.0% in the three months to September, pulling out of the longest double dip recession since 1955 and outstripping expectations for a 0.6% gain.
The greenback was higher against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding 0.21% to 1.2945, amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Spain will formally request a bailout.
The greenback pushed higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF up 0.21% to 0.9343.
The greenback trimmed losses against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD easing up 0.10% to 0.9944, AUD/USD up just 0.06% to 1.0349 and NZD/USD inching up 0.02% to 0.8204.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, rose 0.15% to 80.12.
Also Thursday, a report by the National Association of Realtors showed that U.S. pending home sales rose by 0.3% in September, below expectations for a 2.1% gain.