The US dollar weakened on currency markets on Friday after holding its own during the week against the impact of disappointing US economic data.
The euro rose to US$1.2825 around 10pm GMT against US$1.2793 late on Thursday in New York. The dollar was lower at ¥117.71, down from ¥118.20 on Thursday.
The greenback had managed to rise throughout the week despite soft US economic data including retail sales and inflation.
Initially on Friday, it even brushed aside a hefty drop of 14.6 percent in US housing starts last month to a six-year low of 1.486 million units.
"The dollar's been incredibly resilient in the course of the week, and we're just seeing some end-of-week closing," said Ian Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas.
Traders were also closing out positions in anticipation of a quiet week ahead, which will be shortened in the US because of Thanksgiving Day celebrations on Thursday.
"After a raft of economic indicators, the markets will have little US data to trade on during this holiday-shortened week," Calyon analyst Michael Carey said.
The greenback has been underpinned by hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve officials as well as the minutes to the Fed's last rate-setting meeting last month, when policymakers left their benchmark rate at 5.25 percent.
The pound stood at US$1.8953 in late trade, up from US$1.8876 on Thursday. The US dollar bought 1.2437 Swiss francs, from SF1.2479.
The US currency rose against the New Taiwan dollar in Taipei on Friday, gaining NT$0.091 to close at NT$32.934.
RSS