The dollar rose slightly higher on Thursday following mixed US economic reports, which included jobless data and consumer confidence.

The ICE dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six other major currencies, climbed from 79.903 on Wednesday to 80.052 last night.

The WSJ dollar index, which measures the currency against a slightly broader selection, rose to 70.04 on Thursday evening, from 69.94 last the previous evening.

The October ISM manufacturing sector purchasing managers index (PMI) has come in at 51.7 points, versus the 51 expected by the consensus. The new orders sub-index rose to 54.2 from 52.3. Even so, the Chair of the relevant survey Committee, Bradley J.Holcomb, has said that the rise seen in new orders is deceitful.

The Conference Board´s consumer confidence index for the month of October has come in at 72.2, below the 73 forecast. However, the previous month´s estimate has been revised down to 68.4 from 70.3. Worth noting as well, the bulk of the rise came from the current situation sub-index, which is a moderately negative aspect of the report.

Markit´s US manufacturing sector purchasing managers´ index (PMI) has come in at 51 for October, after 51.3 for the month before (Consensus: 51.3). This release is not to be confused with the much better known PMI from the Institute for Supply Management (PMI).

Initial weekly unemployment claims fell by 9,000 to 363,000 (Consensus: 370,000). Nevertheless, and as a possible note of caution, data from New Jersey and Washington DC had to be estimated due to Hurricane Sandy.

Following this, the euro declined to $1.2941 from $1.2962, while the pound traded at $1.6127, compared to $1.6134 the previous day.

NR

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