The U.S. dollar traded higher against most major currencies on Wednesday, as investors digested economic data and awaited European Central Bank and Bank of Japan meetings.
On the economic front, the privately-owned housing started in June jumped 8.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.215 million units, the highest level since February, the U.S. Department of Commerce said on Wednesday.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, was up 0.21 percent at 94.803 in late trading.
In late New York trading, the euro fell to 1.1518 dollars from 1.1563 dollars, and the British pound decreased to 1.3025 dollars from 1.3049 U.S. dollars in the previous session. The Australian dollar edged up to 0.7957 U.S. dollar from 0.7923 U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar bought 111.79 Japanese yen, lower than 112.00 yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar rose to 0.9553 Swiss franc from 0.9540 Swiss franc, and it edged up to 1.2630 Canadian dollars from 1.2625 Canadian dollars.
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