Investing.com - The U.S. dollar rallied against its major counterparts on Thursday, as safe haven demand was boosted by a flurry of disappointing U.S. data, while investors awaited the results of Spanish bank stress tests.
During U.S. morning trade, the dollar was sharply higher against the euro, with EUR/USD dropping 0.98% to hit 1.2582.
Market sentiment was hit after data showed that manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia-region contracted at the steepest rate since August this month, adding to concerns over the pace of the U.S. economic recovery.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that its manufacturing index dropped by 10.8 points to minus 16.6 in June from May’s reading of minus 5.8.
Analysts had expected the index to rise by 7.1 points to 1.3 in June.
A separate report showed that U.S. existing home sales fell more-than-expected in May, falling by 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted 4.55 million units, outstripping expectations for a 1.1% decline to 4.57 million units.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of people filing for initial jobless benefits fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 387,000 last week, disappointing expectations for a decline of 9,000 to 380,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 389,000 from a previously reported 386,000.
In the euro zone, data showed that manufacturing activity in the region contracted at the fastest pace since June 2009 this month, while manufacturing activity in Germany slowed to the lowest level in three years, as the ongoing euro zone crisis hit export demand.
Investors remained wary ahead of the outcome of an audit of Spanish banks later in the day, amid concerns that the results could show that a EUR100 billion bailout for the country’s banks agreed earlier this month would not be large enough.
Spain’s Treasury sold slightly more than the targeted amount of EUR2 billion at an action of government debt earlier in the session, but the country’s borrowing costs rose sharply.
The average yield on the five-year bond climbed to 6.07%, up from 4.96% at a similar auction last month.
The greenback was higher against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.54% to hit 1.5633.
The pound found some support earlier in the session after official data showed that U.K. retail sales rose 1.4% in May, beating expectations for a 1.1% rise, following a 2.4% decline in April.
Elsewhere, the greenback gained ground against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY advancing 0.88% to hit 80.22 and USD/CHF jumping 0.98% to hit 0.9545.
Earlier in the day, a Bank of Japan policymaker said the central bank is prepared to take bold action to support the economy, signaling the possibility of further monetary easing.
The greenback was stronger against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD gaining 0.75% to hit 1.0258, AUD/USD tumbling 0.93% to hit 1.0098 and NZD/USD down 0.48% to hit 0.7924.
In Canada, official data showed that retail sales declined by a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in April, confounding expectations for a gain of 0.3%, after rising by 0.4% in March.
The New Zealand dollar had strengthened in the Asian session after official data showed that the country’s economy grew by 1.1% in the three months to March, beating expectations for a 0.5% rise and following a 0.4% expansion the previous quarter.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.20%, to trade at 81.77.
Later in the day, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi was to speak in Frankfurt.
During U.S. morning trade, the dollar was sharply higher against the euro, with EUR/USD dropping 0.98% to hit 1.2582.
Market sentiment was hit after data showed that manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia-region contracted at the steepest rate since August this month, adding to concerns over the pace of the U.S. economic recovery.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that its manufacturing index dropped by 10.8 points to minus 16.6 in June from May’s reading of minus 5.8.
Analysts had expected the index to rise by 7.1 points to 1.3 in June.
A separate report showed that U.S. existing home sales fell more-than-expected in May, falling by 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted 4.55 million units, outstripping expectations for a 1.1% decline to 4.57 million units.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of people filing for initial jobless benefits fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 387,000 last week, disappointing expectations for a decline of 9,000 to 380,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 389,000 from a previously reported 386,000.
In the euro zone, data showed that manufacturing activity in the region contracted at the fastest pace since June 2009 this month, while manufacturing activity in Germany slowed to the lowest level in three years, as the ongoing euro zone crisis hit export demand.
Investors remained wary ahead of the outcome of an audit of Spanish banks later in the day, amid concerns that the results could show that a EUR100 billion bailout for the country’s banks agreed earlier this month would not be large enough.
Spain’s Treasury sold slightly more than the targeted amount of EUR2 billion at an action of government debt earlier in the session, but the country’s borrowing costs rose sharply.
The average yield on the five-year bond climbed to 6.07%, up from 4.96% at a similar auction last month.
The greenback was higher against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.54% to hit 1.5633.
The pound found some support earlier in the session after official data showed that U.K. retail sales rose 1.4% in May, beating expectations for a 1.1% rise, following a 2.4% decline in April.
Elsewhere, the greenback gained ground against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY advancing 0.88% to hit 80.22 and USD/CHF jumping 0.98% to hit 0.9545.
Earlier in the day, a Bank of Japan policymaker said the central bank is prepared to take bold action to support the economy, signaling the possibility of further monetary easing.
The greenback was stronger against its Canadian, Australian and New Zealand counterparts, with USD/CAD gaining 0.75% to hit 1.0258, AUD/USD tumbling 0.93% to hit 1.0098 and NZD/USD down 0.48% to hit 0.7924.
In Canada, official data showed that retail sales declined by a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in April, confounding expectations for a gain of 0.3%, after rising by 0.4% in March.
The New Zealand dollar had strengthened in the Asian session after official data showed that the country’s economy grew by 1.1% in the three months to March, beating expectations for a 0.5% rise and following a 0.4% expansion the previous quarter.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.20%, to trade at 81.77.
Later in the day, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi was to speak in Frankfurt.