Foreign exchange market. American session: the U.S. dollar traded lower against the most major currencies despite the better-than-expected U.S. import price index

The U.S. dollar traded lower against the most major currencies despite the better-than-expected U.S. import price index. The U.S. import price index dropped by 0.3% in March, beating expectations for a 0.4% decline, after a 0.2% increase in February. February's figure was revised down from a 0.4% gain.

The decline was driven by a fall in prices for non-fuel imports.

The euro traded higher against the U.S. dollar. Industrial production in France was flat in February, beating expectations for a 0.1% decline, after a 0.3% rise in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.4% increase.

On a yearly basis, the French industrial production rose 0.3% in February, after a 0.6% gain in January.

Concerns over Greece's debt problems continue to weigh on the euro. Greece repaid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tranche of 448 million euros on Thursday.

The British pound traded higher against the U.S. dollar. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research's estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.K. rose by 0.6% in three months to March, after a 0.6% growth in three months to February.

Manufacturing production in the U.K. rose 0.4% in February, in line with expectations, after a 0.6% decline in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.5% decrease.

On a yearly basis, manufacturing production in the U.K. increased 1.1% in February, missing expectations for a 1.3% gain, after a 1.7% rise in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.9% gain.

Industrial production in the U.K. climbed 0.1% in February, missing forecasts of a 0.3% rise, after a 0.1% decline in January.

On a yearly basis, industrial production in the U.K. gained 0.1% in February, missing expectations for a 0.3% rise, after a 1.2% increase in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.3% rise.

The Canadian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar after the better-than-expected Canadian labour market data. Canada's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8% in March, in line with expectations.

The number of employed people increased by 28,700 jobs in March, exceeding expectations for a gain of 100 jobs, after a 1,000 decline in February.

The gain was driven by an increase in part-time jobs.

The Swiss franc traded higher against the U.S. dollar. Switzerland's unemployment rate remained unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 3.2% in March, in line with expectations.

The New Zealand dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the kiwi traded mixed against the greenback in the absence of any economic reports from New Zealand.

The Australian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the Aussie declined against the greenback. Home loans in Australia rose 1.2% in February, missing expectations for a 3.1% gain, after a 1.7% decrease in January. January's figure was revised down from a 3.5% fall.

The Japanese yen traded higher against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the yen traded higher against the greenback in the absence of any economic reports from Japan.