Foreign exchange market. American session: the Canadian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar after the release of the Canadian consumer price index

The U.S. dollar traded higher against the most major currencies after the release of the U.S. housing market data. The U.S. new home sales increased 6.4% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000 units. March's figure was revised up to 407,000 from 384,000. Analysts had expected a gain to 425,000.

The euro traded lower against the U.S. dollar. The IFO - Business Climate index for Germany dropped to a 5-month low of 110.4 in May, from 111.2 in March. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 111.0. Market participants hope the further stimulus measures by the European Central Bank will be introduced in June due to recently released weak economic data in the Eurozone.

German gross domestic product climbed 0.8% in the first quarter (Q4 2013: +0.8%), meeting analysts’ expectations.

On a yearly basis, German gross domestic product rose 2.3% in the first quarter (Q4 2013: +2.2%), exceeding analysts’ expectations of a 2.2% gain.

The business climate index in Belgium decreased to -6.8 in March, from -4.6 in February. Analysts had expected -4.7.

The British pound traded lower against the U.S. dollar after the release of the U.S. housing market data and in the absence of any major economic reports in the U.K.

The Canadian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar after the release of the Canadian consumer price index. The consumer price index in Canada increase 0.3% in April (March: +0.6%), meeting analysts’ expectations. On a year-over-year rate, the consumer price index in Canada climbed 2.0% in April, from 1.5% in March.

The Canadian core consumer price index rose 0.2% in April (March: +0.3%), meeting analysts’ expectations. On a yearly basis, the Canadian core consumer price index climbed 1.4% in April, from a 1.3% increase in March.

The New Zealand dollar traded lower against the U.S. dollar in the absence of any major economic reports in New Zealand. The Conference Board released its April leading economic index for China. The index increased 0.9% in April, from a 1.2 gain in March. Market participants remained unimpressed by this release. China is New Zealand’s second-largest trading partner.

The Australian dollar traded mixed against the U.S. dollar in the absence of any major economic reports in Australia.

The Japanese yen traded lower against the U.S. dollar in the absence of any major economic reports in Japan.