* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Dollar stands tall after strong CPI print
* Traders shift focus on jobless claims and retail sales
* New Zealand dollar gains on reopening hopes
By Stanley White
TOKYO, May 13 (Reuters) - The dollar held gains on Thursday, supported by higher Treasury yields after a bigger-than-expected rise in U.S. consumer prices fanned fears about an increase in inflationary pressure.
Traders will now turn attention to U.S. weekly jobless claims due later on Thursday and retail sales numbers on Friday for guidance on whether upward pressure on prices will persist.
The greenback is likely to continue to strengthen as some investors unwind bearish bets, and re-position in anticipation of sustained inflation as more economies emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, analysts said.
"The move in the dollar was fuelled by the upward surprise in consumer prices, but also because the market was caught on the short side," said Shinichiro Kadota, foreign exchange strategist at Barclays (LON:BARC).
"This market is aware of the potential for further upside surprises to inflation. This will support the dollar."
The dollar traded at 109.51 yen JPY=D3 , close to its strongest level in five weeks.
Against the euro EUR=D3 , the dollar stood at $1.2084, holding onto a 0.6% gain from the previous session.
The British pound GBP=D3 bought $1.4069.
The dollar also traded at 0.9081 Swiss franc CHF=EBS , close to a one-week high.
U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in nearly 12 years in April as booming demand amid a reopening economy pushed against supply constraints, data on Wednesday showed. 10-year U.S. Treasury yields US10YT=RR rose to a five-week high of 1.7040%, increasing the appeal of dollar-denominated assets.
Signs of a stronger labour market and increased consumer spending would offer more evidence that inflationary pressure will pick up, which could push yields and the dollar even higher, traders said.
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 edged up to $0.7175 after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she is exploring quarantine-free travel with other countries as she plots a course for re-opening the economy. Australian dollar AUD=D3 followed the kiwi higher and rose to $0.7735.
The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS traded at 6.4525 per dollar, extending a pullback from an almost three-year high reached on Monday as overseas-listed Chinese firms bought dollars for dividend payments.
========================================================
Currency bid prices at 0233 GMT Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Euro/Dollar
$1.2083
$1.2071
+0.11%
-1.10%
+1.2089
+1.2070 Dollar/Yen
109.5950
109.7050
-0.10%
+6.11%
+109.7750 +109.5000 Euro/Yen
132.40 +0.02% +4.34% +132.5300 +132.3300 S> Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.9083 0.9089 -0.06% +2.68% +0.9092 +0.9079 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 1.4065 1.4055 +0.07% +2.95% +1.4077 +1.4054 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2112 1.2135 -0.18% -4.88% +1.2133 +1.2104 Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 0.7732 0.7726 +0.08% +0.51% +0.7746 +0.7718 NZ NZD=D3 0.7169 0.7161 +0.13% -0.16% +0.7178 +0.7155 Dollar/Dollar All spots FX= Tokyo spots AFX= Europe spots EFX= Volatilities FXVOL= Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>