MW: Dollar up more, Treasurys hold gains after claims
By Deborah Levine
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The dollar extended gains slightly and Treasury prices remained up on Thursday after a report showed 400,000 Americans made first-time claims for jobless benefits in the latest week. The dollar was up strongly before the report after Japan intervened to push down the yen and traders wait to see whether the European Central Bank announces any more bond purchases or offers hints on the path of interest rates. The dollar index DXY +1.50% , which measures the greenback's performance against six other major currencies including the yen, soared to 75 after the U.S. data, from 74.827 prior and up versus 74.035 in late North American trading Wednesday. The euro EURUSD -0.72% fell to $1.4178 compared to $1.4225 earlier and down from $1.4318 Wednesday. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar surged to ¥79.7, jumping from the ¥77.04 level before the intervention announcement and ¥76.96 late in the prior session. Yields on 10-year notes 10_YEAR -1.60% , which move inversely to prices, fell 5 basis points to 2.58%, the lowest level since November.
