U.S. Dollar Seeing Modest Strength Following Upbeat Service Sector Data

RTTNews | 155 days ago
U.S. Dollar Seeing Modest Strength Following Upbeat Service Sector Data

(RTTNews) - After trending lower over the past few days, the value of the U.S. dollar has shown a modest move back to the upside during trading on Wednesday.

The U.S. dollar index has fluctuated over the course of the day but is currently up 0.19 points or 0.2 percent at 104.30.

The greenback is trading at 156.14 yen compared to the 154.88 yen it fetched at the close of New York trading on Tuesday. Against the euro, the dollar is trading at $1.0869 compared to yesterday's $1.0879.

The uptick by the dollar comes following the release of a report from the Institute for Supply Management showing service sector activity returned to growth in the month of May after contracting in April for the first time since December 2022

The ISM said its services PMI jumped to 53.8 in May from 49.4 in April, with a reading above 50 indicating growth in the sector. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 50.8.

With the much bigger than expected increase, the services PMI reached its highest level since hitting 54.1 in August 2023.

The buck had moved to the downside earlier in the session as payroll processor ADP released a report showing private sector job growth in the U.S. slowed by more than expected in the month of May.

ADP said private sector employment climbed by 152,000 jobs in May after jumping by a downwardly revised 188,000 jobs in April.

Economists had expected private sector employment to increase by 173,000 jobs compared to the addition of 192,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.

read more
U.S. Wholesale Inventories Dip Slightly More Than Expected In September

U.S. Wholesale Inventories Dip Slightly More Than Expected In September

The Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing wholesale inventories in the U.S. fell by slightly more than expected in the month of September. The report said wholesale inventories slipped by 0.2 percent in September after rising by 0.2 percent in August. Economists had expected wholesale inventories to edge down by 0.1 percent.
RTTNews | 22h 28min ago
U.S. Labor Productivity Surges 2.2% In Q3, Slightly Less Than Expected

U.S. Labor Productivity Surges 2.2% In Q3, Slightly Less Than Expected

Labor productivity in the U.S. increased by slightly less than expected in the third quarter, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday, while unit labor costs rose by much more than expected. The Labor Department said labor productivity shot up by 2.2 percent in the third quarter after surging by a downwardly revised 2.1 percent in the second quarter.
RTTNews | 22h 36min ago
U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Rebound Modestly From Five-Month Low

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Rebound Modestly From Five-Month Low

A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed a modest rebound by first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended November 2nd. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims crept up to 221,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level of 218,000. The uptick came a week after jobless claims dropped to their lowest level since May.
RTTNews | 22h 40min ago
U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Inch Up To 221,000

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Inch Up To 221,000

A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed a modest rebound by first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended November 2nd.
RTTNews | 1 day ago
U.S. Services Index Unexpectedly Climbs To Two-Year High In October

U.S. Services Index Unexpectedly Climbs To Two-Year High In October

Service sector activity in the U.S. unexpectedly grew at an accelerated rate in the month of October, according to a report released by the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday. The ISM said its services PMI rose to 56.0 in October from 54.9 in September, with a reading above 50 indicating growth. The uptick surprised economists, who had expected the index to dip to 53.8.
RTTNews | 2 days ago