(Recasts with dollar, adds quote, updates prices)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The greenback rose to a one-week high against the euro on Friday as
economic data pointed to solid economic growth, and reduced fears about an impending slowdown.
U.S. homebuilding surged to a 13-year high in December as activity increased across the board,
suggesting the housing market recovery was back on track amid low mortgage rates. It comes after data on Thursday showed that U.S. retail sales increased for a third straight month in
December, while a gauge of manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region rebounded in January to
its highest level in eight months. "The last couple of sessions we've gotten some pretty good data," said Bipan Rai, North American head
of FX strategy at CIBC Capital Markets in Toronto.
"There was a little bit of concern by the Federal Reserve with regard to the health of the consumer
and household market in the U.S., but it seems like yesterday's retail sales numbers and also the housing
data from yesterday and today have assuaged some of those fears for the time being," Rai said.
The euro EUR= fell 0.41% against the dollar to $1.1089.
The Japanese yen was little changed on the day, after weakening earlier on Friday as record high
stocks reflected stronger risk appetite.
U.S. stock indexes were driven higher by optimism over corporate earnings, upbeat economic data and
indications of resilience in China's economy. .N
Data on Friday showed that China's economy ended the year on a firmer note, even as economic growth
cooled to its weakest in nearly 30 years. "December data signaled a strong finish for the Chinese economy and that suggests the Chinese economy
may be primed for a rebound in 2020," said Lee Hardman, a currency strategist at MUFG in London.
The yen rose hit 110.28, the weakest since May, before falling back to 110.12.
The offshore Chinese yuan CNH= also strengthened as far as 6.8567, the strongest since July.
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Currency bid prices at 2:20PM (1920 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1089 $1.1135 -0.41% -1.08% +1.1142 +1.1087
Dollar/Yen JPY= 110.1200 110.1400 -0.02% +1.16% +110.2800 +110.0600
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 122.14 122.67 -0.43% +0.16% +122.8300 +122.1300
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9679 0.9644 +0.36% +0.01% +0.9695 +0.9646
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.3017 1.3076 -0.45% -1.83% +1.3117 +1.3017
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3063 1.3040 +0.18% +0.59% +1.3075 +1.3034
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6877 0.6898 -0.30% -2.09% +0.6911 +0.6873
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0735 1.0743 -0.07% -1.08% +1.0757 +1.0735
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8517 0.8513 +0.05% +0.75% +0.8531 +0.8488
NZ NZD= 0.6615 0.6638 -0.35% -1.80% +0.6650 +0.6608
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 8.9081 8.8859 +0.25% +1.46% +8.9191 +8.8825
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.8775 9.8942 -0.17% +0.40% +9.9035 +9.8771
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.5163 9.4873 -0.14% +1.81% +9.5239 +9.4817
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.5545 10.5695 -0.14% +0.81% +10.5767 +10.5380