* Retail sales, jobless claims show strong U.S. economy
* Euro hurt by weak manufacturing data (New throughout, updates trading and comments to U.S. market open, new byline, changes dateline, previous LONDON)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, April 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar gained on Thursday on strong retail sales data, while the euro was dented by weak manufacturing data in the region.
U.S. retail sales increased by the most in 1-1/2 years in March as households boosted purchases of motor vehicles and a range of other goods, the latest indication that economic growth picked up in the first quarter after a false start. data showed that the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell to more than a 49-1/2-year low last week, pointing to sustained strength in the economy. picture was less bullish in the Eurozone as data showed that activity in Germany's manufacturing sector shrank for a fourth straight month in April, while a similar survey from France also painted a bleak picture. the space of several hours we got a timely reminder that the growth leadership is very decisively in favor of the U.S. dollar,” said Richard Franulovich, head of FX strategy at Westpac Banking Corp in New York.
Investors have been looking for signs that global growth is stabilizing after a slowdown.
"Investors are worried about the health of the global economy and the eurozone and the fortunes of the euro are closely tied with that," said Ricardo Evangelista, a senior analyst at ActivTrades in London.
A week ago, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi raised the prospect of more support for the struggling euro zone economy if its slowdown persist. bid prices at 9:00AM (1300 GMT) Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Euro/Dollar
$1.1238
$1.1294
-0.50%
-2.01%
+1.1305
+1.1239 Dollar/Yen
111.9500
112.0500
-0.09%
+1.53%
+112.0700 +111.7800 Euro/Yen
EURJPY=
125.81
126.54
-0.58%
-0.32%
+126.6000 +125.7100 Dollar/Swiss
CHF=
1.0130
1.0103
+0.27%
+3.22%
+1.0132
+1.0093 Sterling/Dollar GBP=
1.3002
1.3043
-0.31%
+1.92%
+1.3053
+1.2994 Dollar/Canadian CAD=
1.3379
1.3338
+0.31%
-1.89%
+1.3399
+1.3336 Australian/Doll AUD=
0.7154
0.7178
-0.33%
+1.49%
+0.7199
+0.7149 ar
Euro/Swiss
EURCHF=
1.1386
1.1414
-0.25%
+1.17%
+1.1422
+1.1367 Euro/Sterling
EURGBP=
0.8642
0.8657
-0.17%
-3.81%
+0.8669
+0.8637 NZ
NZD=
0.6681
0.6726
-0.67%
-0.54%
+0.6730
+0.6680 Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway
8.5254
8.4911
+0.40%
-1.31%
+8.5597
+8.4867 Euro/Norway
EURNOK=
9.5838
9.5976
-0.14%
-3.25%
+9.6314
+9.5851 Dollar/Sweden
SEK=
9.3174
9.2466
+0.25%
+3.94%
+9.3350
+9.2391 Euro/Sweden
EURSEK=
10.4732
10.4475
+0.25%
+2.04%
+10.5034
+10.4400