The dollar is rising against most major currencies after a government report showed more people in the U.S. applied for unemployment benefits then were expected.
The news sent investors nervous about slowing economic growth searching for less risky currencies.
The dollar gained against the euro and pound in morning trading Thursday, and the Swiss franc hit a new record high against the euro.
The U.S. Labor Department says applications for unemployment benefits rose by 9,000 to 429,000 last week, the biggest rise in a month.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve lowered its forecast for economic growth, acknowledging that the economy is slowing.
The euro fell to $1.4133 from $1.4376 Wednesday and the British pound fell to $1.5958 from $1.6085.
