Forexpros — The U.S. dollar was broadly higher against its major counterparts on Thursday, after worse-than-expected euro zone and U.K. manufacturing data added to concerns over the outlook for global growth.
During European morning trade, the greenback was higher against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.51% to hit 1.4298.
Earlier Thursday, data showed that Germany’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to its lowest level since September 2009 in August, slumping to 50.9, well below an initial estimate of 52.0.
The euro zone’s manufacturing PMI also posted a contraction, falling to a two-year low of 49.0, down from an initial reading of 49.7.
The greenback was also higher against the pound, with GBP/USD slipping 0.09% to hit 1.6231.
A report earlier showed that the U.K.’s manufacturing PMI fell unexpectedly in August, slumping to 49.0, the lowest level since May 2009.
Meanwhile, the greenback was up against the yen but was sharply lower against the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY gaining 0.26% to hit 76.86 and USD/CHF tumbling 1.04% to hit 0.7973.
Earlier in the day, data showed that Switzerland’s manufacturing PMI rose more-than-expected in August, while a separate report showed that the country’s gross domestic product rose in line with expectations in the second quarter.
Elsewhere, the greenback was higher against its Canadian and New Zealand counterparts but was almost unchanged against its Australian cousin, with USD/CAD easing up 0.09% to hit 0.9784, NZD/USD shedding 0.53% to hit 0.8495 and AUD/USD inching up 0.01% to hit 1.0711.
Official data released earlier showed that Australian retail sales rose more-than-expected in July, while capital investment surpassed expectations in the second quarter.
A separate report showed that export prices for New Zealand’s commodities fell in August, down for the third consecutive month.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, rose 0.33% to hit 74.46.
Later Thursday, the U.S. was to publish its closely watched weekly report on initial jobless claims, while the Institute of Supply Management was to produce data on manufacturing growth.
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