The dollar fell against the euro Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of additional stimulus from the European Central Bank with guesses on when the Federal Reserve could begin raising rates.
Jobless claims edged up by 2,000 to 304,000 in the week ended April 12, remaining near their lowest level since 2007. Economists had expected claims to hit 315,000, according to a MarketWatch survey.
Manufacturing in the Philadelphia area picked up in April, with the Philly Fed diffusion index rising to 16.6 from 9.0 in March. The 16.6 reading was the highest since September and beat expectations.
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Wednesday said a strong U.S. economy that meets the Fed’s employment and inflation goals could be achieved by the end of 2016, showing “how far we have to go” before the recovery takes root.
