Dollar mixed vs. rivals in cautious trade ahead of U.S. data

The dollar was mixed against the other major currencies on Thursday, as markets were jittery ahead of a string of U.S. economic reports to be released later in the day, as well as policy statements by the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.

During European morning trade, USD/JPY slipped 0.25% to 102.10.

Investors were also eyeing the release of a key U.S. jobs report on Friday, after a string of positive data over the week added to expectations the Federal Reserve will soon begin tapering its montly asset purchases.

Elsewhere, EUR/USD was up 0.03% to 1.3598. 

The ECB was widely expected to hold off any fresh policy action later Thursday, but comments by central bank president Mario Draghi will be closely watched for indications on the ECB's future policy moves.

The pound edged lower against the dollar, with GBP/USD down 0.19% to 1.6353. 

The dollar was little changed against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHFeasing 0.01% to 0.9023.

The greenback was mixed to higher against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD shed 0.27% to 0.9006, NZD/USDslipping 0.18% to 0.8182 and USD/CAD edging down 0.07% to 1.0676.

The Aussie came under pressure after official data earlier showed that Australia's trade deficit widened to AUD0.53 billion in October, from AUD0.27 billion the previous month. Analysts had expected the trade deficit to widen to AUD0.38 billion.

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.02% to 80.60.

Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish a revised estimate of third quarter gross domestic product, as well as the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on factory orders. 

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Forex - GBP/USD edges lower ahead of BoE policy statement

The pound edged lower against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the Bank of England's monthly policy statement, due later in the day. 

GBP/USD hit 1.6348 during European morning trade, the session low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.6358, slipping 0.16%. 

Cable was likely to find support at 1.6278, the low of November 28 and resistance at 1.6442, the high of December 2 and a 27-month high. 

The pound came under pressure on Wednesday after Markit said the U.K. services purchasing managers index fell to 60.0 in November from a reading of 62.5 in October, which was the strongest since May 1997. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 62.0 last month. 

The data came a day after a report howed that the U.K. construction PMI rose to 62.6 in November, the highest level since August 2007, fuelling speculation that the BoE may tighten monetary policy ahead of other central banks. 

Meanwhile, investors were also eyeing the release of a key U.S. jobs report on Friday, after a string of positive data over the week added to expectations the Federal Reserve will soon begin tapering its montly asset purchases. 

Sterling was lower against the euro, with EUR/GBP edging up 0.17% to 0.8312. 

Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish a revised estimate of third quarter gross domestic product, as well as the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on factory orders.

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