Asian session review: the dollar rose slightly against the major currencies

During today's Asian trading, the US dollar consolidated against the euro and rose against the yen and the pound.

The dollar index retreated from a two-month high reached last week, amid a disappointing report from the US Department of Labor for the number of new applications for unemployment benefits, weak inflation data and fears of an excessive increase in the US debt burden if a new package of measures to support the US economy of $ 1.9 trillion is adopted.

Data released on Thursday by the US Department of Labor showed that the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits for the first time fell by 19 000 last week - to 793,000. This is the lowest level in the last five weeks.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the Fed does not intend to change current policy and stimulate the economy through low interest rates and asset buybacks in volume.

US President Joe Biden signed a $ 1.9 trillion package of measures to support the US economy, including, in particular, direct payments to Americans in the amount of $ 1,400, as well as weekly unemployment allowances in the amount of $ 400.

The ICE Dollar index, which measures the value of the US dollar against six major world currencies (euro, swiss franc, yen, canadian dollar, pound sterling and swedish krona), rose 0.06%.