The dollar fell versus the yen Thursday after reports showed a jump in weekly U.S. jobless claims and a higher-than-expected increase in January producer prices. Analysts said the data may weigh on U.S. stocks and increase risk aversion among investors. "We have higher inflation and less jobs in the United States and both are very bad for the equity markets ... and not necessarily good for the dollar overall," said Andrew Busch, a global FX strategist at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago. The dollar fell 0.8 percent to 90.59 yen [JPY=X 90.7 -0.53 (-0.58%) ], a session low, from 90.85 yen prior to the data. The euro jumped to a session high versus the Swiss franc [EURCHF=X 1.4671 0.0008 (+0.05%) ] in morning trade Thursday. The dollar also gained versus the Swiss franc [CHF=X 1.0756 -0.0024 (-0.22%) ]. The euro [EUR=X 1.3636 0.0034 (+0.25%) ] erased losses versus the U.S. dollar to touch a session high. Recent sharp moves in the Swiss franc have come amid talk of central bank intervention. The Swiss National Bank declined to comment on the currency moves. The dollar was boosted earlier by meeting minutes that showed U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers had discussed strategies for withdrawing monetary stimulus. The dollar was also boosted by meeting minutes that showed U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers had discussed strategies for withdrawing monetary stimulus. The euro fell against the dollar, nearing a nine-month low hit earlier this week, while sterling came under selling pressure after data revealed an unexpectedly sharp deterioration in UK public finances in January. Analysts said there were concerns that if countries such as Greece implemented the harsh fiscal measures needed to cut their debt this would weigh on euro zone growth and the European Central Bank would be slower in tightening monetary policy. That view pushed down implied euro zone interest rates on Thursday. "ECB tightening risks being delayed, and yield differentials are playing in favor of a lower euro/dollar," said Tom Levinson, currency strategist at ING. The dollar was supported after Fed minutes on Wednesday revealed several policymakers wanted to begin selling securities relatively soon as the U.S. economy finds its footing, and by strong housing and industrial output data. The dollar index was up 0.3 percent at 80.619, a shade below the seven-month high of 80.748 hit late last week. A weekly close above 80.43, the 200-week moving average, would establish a near-term uptrend for the dollar. Charts show the next target at 81.47, which is the index's June 2009 high, and then 81.90 — a 50 percent retracement of its fall from 89.62 to 74.17 last year. "It hasn't been a huge move but the Fed minutes have helped the dollar as they were perceived as hawkish," said Johan Javeus, currency strategist at SEB in Stockholm. "Whereas before there was a sense that the ECB would be ahead of the Fed in raising rates it now looks increasingly likely that the Fed will move before the ECB," he said. Concerns about fiscal troubles in Greece and other euro zone countries also continued to weigh on sentiment towards the euro. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said on Wednesday his country was not seeking European taxpayers' money but needed a breathing space to cut its budget deficit and borrow "on normal conditions."

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