Forex - U.S. dollar higher on U.S. employment data, Greece

Forexpros -  The U.S. dollar gained against most of its major counterparts Thursday, as mixed messages from Greece and strong U.S. employment data fuelled the greenback’s advance.
 
During mid session U.S. trade, the dollar gained ground against the euro, with EUR/USD easing lower 0.11% to hit 1.3145.
 
The U.S. dollar found support  when Eurogroup head, Jean Claude Juncker stated talks with private creditors on the Greek debt restructuring plan have proven to be “ultra difficult”.
 
However, the EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn stated that Greek debt negotiations were at an advanced stage with a conclusion pending, giving the market mixed messages.
 
The deal is supposed to be approved at an extraordinary meeting of EU finance ministers on Monday.
 
This agreement is critical for Greece to avoid default on March 20 by obtaining its next tranche of bailout funds.
 
Meanwhile, in the United States, data indicated that the number of filings for unemployment assistance last week dropped more than expected to 367,000 beating estimates for a decline of 373,000.
 
Economists believe jobless claims below 400,000 indicate an improving labor market. The number has remained below 400,000 in 12 of the last 14 weeks.
 
Earlier, Spain auctioned EUR4.5billion of medium term debt at lower yields than previously, while France sold EUR8 billion of debt to solid investor interest and lower yields.
 
The greenback traded higher against the pound, with GBP/USD slipping 0.17% to hit 1.5805.
 
In the U.K. data indicated that the construction sector expanded in January at a weaker than forecast pace, as growth in new orders slowed and contracts completed.
 
Elsewhere, the greenback was higher against the yen but lower against the Swiss franc with USD/JPY gaining 0.05% to 76.30 and USD/CHF falling 0.54% to hit 0.9152.
 
Official data showed that Switzerland’s trade surplus narrowed to CHF2.07 billion in December as exports declined due to the euro zone crisis
 
The greenback was higher against its Canadian but lower against its Australian and New Zealand counterparts with USD/CAD climbing 0.10% to hit 0.9996, AUD/USD climbing 0.03% to hit 1.0709 and NZD/USD adding 0.16% to 0.8338.
 
The Australian dollar was lifted as the country posted a larger than expected trade surplus of AUD1.71 billion in December.
 
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, climbed 0.04% to hit 78.06.