The dollar kept close to the previous session's one-week highs against the euro on Thursday, holding steady as investors awaited US data to confirm fresh signs of strength in US manufacturing.
A September factory survey from the New York Federal Reserve showed a much stronger improvement than expected on Wednesday and the manufacturing component of industrial output figures also hinted at recovery in the sector, sending the dollar up around 1 percent against other major currencies.
Analysts said the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's business conditions index for September, due at 1600 GMT on Thursday, needed to confirm the New York survey's findings to keep the dollar buoyant and markets will watch August consumer prices at 1230 GMT for the inflation outlook.
"The dollar had a good day yesterday following the manufacturing figures out of New York and overall it's looking fairly upbeat today," said Chris Gothard, currency analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman.
By 1140 GMT, the euro was quoted at $1.2160, not far off a one-week low around $1.2135 struck overnight and steady from late US levels.
The dollar was 0.4 percent lower at 109.55 yen, in the centre of the week's range. Traders said the move was driven by Japanese exporter selling of dollars, although there has been speculation in recent days that China's yuan could be revalued against the US currency, which has also lent the yen support.
The dollar was a touch lower at 1.2690 Swiss francs, although not far from Wednesday's peak. The Swiss National Bank makes a rate decision at around 1200 GMT, with an expected hike seen as an indication that conditions may also be picking up in the neighbouring eurozone as well.
Sterling, which has been under pressure in recent weeks, gained more than half a percent on the euro and dollar after stronger than expected British retail sales data stirred up speculation there may be room for British rates to rise further.
The market is trying to gauge the outlook for US interest rates with a Federal Reserve policy meeting next Tuesday expected to deliver a quarter percentage point increase from the current level of 1.5 percent.
Key to positive dollar sentiment is how quickly the Fed increases rates after September, so the market is looking for signs that a soft patch in the recovery has passed. Higher rates make short-term dollar-denominated deposits more attractive.
On Wednesday, the New York Fed's Empire State manufacturing index climbed to 28.3 in September, better than forecasts for a rise to 18.8. The Philly Fed index is forecast at 24.5 from 28.5 in August.
"People will have to wait until late in the session for the Philly Fed to show us if the New York Fed report was an outlier or not. So we're not fully out of the woods for the dollar," said Peter Fontaine, currency strategist at KBC in Brussels.
"If the Philly Fed can come good then we will see the market reacting. If the market sees then that rate expectations are increasing then it's a big support for the US dollar."
Forecasts for the US CPI are for a 0.1 percent increase in August, with core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, seen rising 0.2 percent.
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