Dollar jumps to 2-month high against euro
NEW YORK (AP) — Signs that the U.S. job market is slowly improving pushed the dollar higher against most other major currencies Thursday. The euro fell to a two-month low after the European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged.
The euro fell to $1.2750 late Thursday from $1.2767 late Wednesday. The euro fell as low as $1.2716 earlier, its lowest level against the dollar since Sept. 9.
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, according to the Labor Department. Officials warned that the figures were distorted by Superstorm Sandy.
In Europe, ECB President Mario Draghi warned that the economy of the 17 countries that use the euro remains weak and will struggle to grow. The ECB left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low 0.75 percent.
The British pound fell to $1.5981 from $1.5987.
The dollar rose to 0.9457 Swiss franc from 0.9449 Swiss franc and to 99.98 Canadian cents from 99.71 Canadian cents.
The dollar fell to 79.38 Japanese yen from 79.90 Japanese yen.
