Dollar remains broadly lower after downbeat U.S. data

Investing.com - The dollar remained broadly lower against a basket of other major currencies on Thursday, after the release of downbeat U.S. economic reports dampened expectations for a rate hike by the Federal Reserve in the near future.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Thursday that factory orders fell 1.0% in May, compared to expectations for a 0.5% decline. April’s figure was revised to a decline of 0.7% from a previously reported decline of 0.4%.

Earlier in the day, the Labor Department reported that the economy added 223,000 jobs in June, compared to expectations for jobs growth of 230,000. May’s figure was revised down to 254,000 from 262,000 previously.

The unemployment rate ticked down to 5.3% last month, from 5.5% in June. Economists had expected the jobless rate to decline to 5.4%.

A separate report showed that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending June 27 increased by 10,000 to 281,000 from the previous week’s total of 271,000. Analysts had expected initial jobless claims to fall by 1,000 to 270,000 last week.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.31% at 96.18.

EUR/USD rose 0.47% to 1.1104.

The euro's gains were capped however, as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday urged Greeks to reject an international bailout deal in a referendum due to be held on July 5, souring hopes of any breakthrough.

Less than 24 hours before, Tsipras had written a conciliatory letter to creditors asking for a new bailout that would accept many of their terms.

On Wednesday Greece became the first developed country to default on the International Monetary Fund after its second bailout program expired late Tuesday. The IMF confirmed that the Greek government failed to make a scheduled €1.6 billion loan repayment.

The pound was steady, with GBP/USD at two-and-a-half week lows of 1.5615.

Markets shrugged off a report on Thursday by research group Markit showing that the U.K. construction purchasing managers' index rose to a four-month high of 58.1 this month from 55.9, beating expectations for a reading of 56.5.

Elsewhere, the dollar was lower against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY down 0.09% to 123.06 and with USD/CHF dropping 0.55% to 0.9432.

The Australian dollars was lower, with AUD/USD down 0.14% at 0.7632, while NZD/USD held steady at 0.6730 after hitting fresh five-year lows of 0.6663 earlier in the session.

Meanwhile, USD/CAD slipped 0.13% to trade at 1.2573, after hitting highs of 1.2633 earlier.

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