Dollar little changed vs. rivals after U.S. data

The dollar was little changed against the other major currencies on Friday, after the release of tepid U.S. economic reports as growing speculation that the Federal Reserve will refrain from tapering its stimulus program this year continued to weigh on the greenback.

During U.S. morning trade, the dollar was steady against the yen, withUSD/JPY inching 0.07% higher to 97.35.

In a revised report, the Universtiy of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index fell to 73.2 this month, from a reading of 75.2 in September, compared to expectations for a downtick to 75.0. 

The University of Michigan also said inflation expectations ticked up to 3.0% in October, from 2.9% the previous month. 

The data came after the Census Bureau said that U.S. core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, fell 0.1% in September, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise, after a 0.1% decline the previous month. 

U.S. durable goods orders rose 3.7% last month, exceeding expectations for a 2% increase, after a 0.1% rise in August. 

The dollar came under broad selling pressure this week after disappointing U.S. employment reports added to expectations that the Fed will delay tapering its stimulus program until next year amid concerns over the impact of the 16-day U.S. government shutdown on the economic recovery. 

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits declined by a lower than expected 12,000 last week to 350,000, while a separate report earlier in the week showed that U.S. jobs growth slowed in September. 

In Japan, official data earlier showed that the Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food, rose by an annualised rate of 0.3% in October, in line with expectations, after a 0.2% rise the previous month. 

The euro was little changed against the dollar, with EUR/USD easing up 0.03% to 1.3803. 

In the euro zone, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research said Germany's business climate index fell to 107.4 in October, from a reading of 107.7 the previous month, confounding expectations for a rise to 108.0.

The dollar was higher against the pound and the Swiss franc, withGBP/USD edging down 0.24% to 1.6162, and with USD/CHF rising 0.15% to hit 0.8937. 

Preliminary data earlier showed that the U.K. gross domestic product rose 0.8% in the third quarter, in line with expectations and up from 0.7% in the previous quarter.

Elsewhere, the greenback was broadly higher against its Australian, New Zealand and Canadian counterparts, with AUD/USD shedding 0.35% to 0.9588, NZD/USD retreating 0.72% to trade at 0.8293 and USD/CAD up 0.24% to 1.0444. 

The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.06% to 79.30. 

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Forex - GBP/USD remains moderately lower, Fed in focus

The pound remained moderately lower against the U.S. dollar on Friday, but losses were limited as the release of weak U.S. consumer sentiment data added to speculation that the Federal Reserve will hold back from tapering its asset purchases this year. 

GBP/USD hit 1.6167 during U.S. morning trade, the session low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.6184, edging down 0.12%. 

Cable was likely to find support at 1.6030, the low of September 27 and short-term resistance at 1.6257, the high of October 23. 

In a revised report, the Universtiy of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index fell to 73.2 this month, from a reading of 75.2 in September, compared to expectations for a downtick to 75.0. 

The University of Michigan also said inflation expectations ticked up to 3.0% in October, from 2.9% the previous month. 

The data came after the Census Bureau said that U.S. core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, fell 0.1% in September, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise, after a 0.1% decline the previous month. 

U.S. durable goods orders rose 3.7% last month, exceeding expectations for a 2% increase, after a 0.1% rise in August. 

The dollar came under broad selling pressure this week after disappointing U.S. employment reports added to expectations that the Fed will delay tapering its stimulus program until next year amid concerns over the impact of the 16-day U.S. government shutdown on the economic recovery. 

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits declined by a lower than expected 12,000 last week to 350,000, while a separate report earlier in the week showed that U.S. jobs growth slowed in September. 

In the U.K., preliminary data earlier showed that the U.K. gross domestic product rose 0.8% in the third quarter, in line with expectations and up from 0.7% in the previous quarter. 

Sterling was lower against the euro with EUR/GBP adding 0.14%, to hit 0.8530. 

Also Friday, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research said Germany's business climate index fell to 107.4 in October, from a reading of 107.7 the previous month, confounding expectations for a rise to 108.0.

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Forex - EUR/USD little changed after U.S. consumer sentiment data

The euro was little changed against the U.S. dollar on Friday, still hovering near two-year highs after the release of downbeat U.S. consumer sentiment data as investors remained focused on the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision. 

EUR/USD hit 1.3775 during U.S. morning trade, the session low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.3796, inching down 0.03%. 

The pair was likely to find support at 1.3792, the low of October 22 and resistance at 1.4246, the high of October 1, 2011. 

In a revised report, the Universtiy of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index fell to 73.2 this month, from a reading of 75.2 in September, compared to expectations for a downtick to 75.0. 

The University of Michigan also said inflation expectations ticked up to 3.0% in October, from 2.9% the previous month. 

The data came after the Census Bureau said that U.S. core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, fell 0.1% in September, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise, after a 0.1% decline the previous month. 

U.S. durable goods orders rose 3.7% last month, exceeding expectations for a 2% increase, after a 0.1% rise in August. 

The dollar remained under broad selling pressure after disappointing U.S. employment reports this week added to expectations that the Fed will delay tapering its stimulus program until next year amid concerns over the impact of the 16-day U.S. government shutdown on the economic recovery. 

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits declined by a lower than expected 12,000 last week to 350,000, while a separate report earlier in the week showed that U.S. jobs growth slowed in September. 

In the euro zone, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research said Germany's business climate index fell to 107.4 in October, from a reading of 107.7 the previous month, confounding expectations for a rise to 108.0. 

The euro was fractionally higher against the pound with EUR/GBP up 0.08%, to hit 0.8525. 

Also Friday, preliminary data showed that the U.K. gross domestic product rose 0.8% in the third quarter, in line with expectations and up from 0.7% in the previous quarter.

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Forex - EUR/USD edges lower but remains supported

The euro edged lower against the U.S. dollar on Friday, but remained near two-year highs after markets showed no reaction to U.S. durable goods data, as they awaited the release of a report on consumer sentiment later in the day. 

EUR/USD hit 1.3775 during European morning trade, the session low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.3785, slipping 0.11%. 

The pair was likely to find support at 1.3792, the low of October 22 and resistance at 1.4246, the high of October 1, 2011. 

In a report, the Census Bureau said that U.S. core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, fell 0.1% in September, confounding expectations for a 0.5% rise, after a 0.1% decline the previous month. 

U.S. durable goods orders rose 3.7% last month, exceeding expectations for a 2% increase, after a 0.1% rise in August. 

The dollar remained under broad selling pressure after disappointing U.S. employment reports this week added to expectations that the Fed will delay tapering its stimulus program until next year amid concerns over the impact of the 16-day U.S. government shutdown on the economic recovery. 

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits declined by a lower than expected 12,000 last week to 350,000, while a separate report earlier in the week showed that U.S. jobs growth slowed in September. 

In the euro zone, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research said Germany's business climate index fell to 107.4 in October, from a reading of 107.7 the previous month, confounding expectations for a rise to 108.0. 

The euro was steady against the pound with EUR/GBP inching up 0.01%, to hit 0.8518. 

Also Friday, preliminary data showed that the U.K. gross domestic product rose 0.8% in the third quarter, in line with expectations and up from 0.7% in the previous quarter. 

Later in the day, the U.S. was to release revised data on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan.

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