Investing.com - The dollar pushed lower against the other major currencies on Thursday, after the release of disappointing U.S. economic reports, while investors were still digesting uncertainty caused by the Federal Reserve’s latest policy statement.
USD/JPY was little changed at 118.74.
The U.S. National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales index inched up by 0.1% last month, disappointing expectations for a gain of 0.8%.
The data came shortly after the U.S. Commerce Department said that total durable goods orders tumbled by 5.1% last month, compared to forecasts for a decline of 0.6%.
Core durable goods orders, which exclude volatile transportation items, fell by 1.2% in December, disappointing expectations for a drop of 0.1%.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending January 22 decreased by 14,000 to 278,000 from the previous week’s total of 294,000, which was the highest since April.
Analysts expected jobless claims to fall by 12,000 to 282,000 last week.
On Wednesday, the Fed left interest rates on hold at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, after raising interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in December.
The U.S. economy is still on track for moderate growth and a stronger labor market even with "gradual" rate increases, the bank said without giving any indications on the pace of future rate hikes.
Investors were turning to the conclusion of the of the Bank of Japan meeting on Friday.
EUR/USD gained 0.43% to 1.0939.
Elsewhere, the dollar remained lower against the pound and the Swiss franc, with GBP/USD up 1.04% at 1.4379 and with USD/CHF shedding 0.21% to 1.0129.
Sterling found support after the U.K. Office for National Statistics said fourth quarter gross domestic product grew 0.5%, matching forecasts after growth of 0.4% in the three months to September.
The U.K. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.9% in the three months to December, slowing from 2.1% in the third quarter and the smallest increase since early 2013.
The commodity-related Canadian dollar was boosted as oil prices rose briefly above $34 a barrel on Thursday after Russia’s energy minister fueled speculation of possible joint action with OPEC producers to cut output. USD/CAD was down 0.21% at 1.4068.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars were stronger, with AUD/USD up 0.85% at 0.7085 and with NZD/USD climbing 0.53% to trade at 0.6463.
Earlier Thursday, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand held its benchmark interest rate at 2.50%, in a widely expected move. However, RBNZ Governor Graeme Wheeler indicated that further rate cuts may be needed.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.40% at 98.62.