By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) — The U.S. dollar edged lower against major rivals on Thursday, although moves were muted ahead of this week’s U.S. gross-domestic-product data.
The dollar index (DXY 77.74, -0.16, -0.20%) , which tracks the U.S. unit against a basket of six other currencies, traded at 77.745, down from 77.776 in late North American action on Wednesday. See real time currency quotes and tools.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee kept U.S. interest rates on hold at ultra-low levels and signaled that it will press ahead with its $600 billion asset-buying program. Read more on Federal Reserve decision.
“With the FOMC meeting out of the way, the markets will be looking at the upcoming U.S. data for signs of recovery,” said currency strategists at BNP Paribas.
“Of particular importance will be fourth-quarter gross domestic product on Friday,” they said, adding that a strong GDP and weekly jobless-claims number could prompt gains for the greenback. The jobs data are due out Thursday, along with durable goods data.
The dollar (USDYEN 82.1800, -0.0200, -0.0243%) bought 82.14 yen, down from ¥82.26 in the previous session.
The euro (EURUSD 1.3705, -0.0005, -0.0365%) traded at $1.3703, barely changed from $1.3706 late the previous day. The British pound (GBPUSD 1.5902, -0.0023, -0.1444%) was at the $1.5913 level Thursday, almost flat with $1.5912 late Wednesday.
The Australian dollar (AUDUSD 0.9952, -0.0035, -0.3505%) declined 0.3% to 99.59 U.S. cents after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a one-time tax to help pay for damage caused by recent floods in the nation’s eastern states. Read more on Australian flood-tax plan.
