NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. dollar extended losses versus other major currencies Thursday after a report showed initial claims for jobless benefits fell down 47,000 to 522,000 in the week ended July 11. That's the lowest level since January, though the Labor Department cited seasonal factors. The dollar index (DXY 79.27, -0.04, -0.06%) , which tracks the greenback against a trade-weighted basket of six major rivals, traded at 79.208 in recent action, compared with 79.437 in North American trade late Wednesday. Continuing claims for benefits declined to 6.3 million. Still to come in the session is manufacturing data from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve and a report on homebuilder's confidence. The U.S. currency was knocked down earlier after stronger-than-expected results from J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM 35.97, -0.29, -0.80%) reinforced investor appetite for equities.
