Euro climbs off year low versus dollar

Euro rose off June 2017 lows in American trade versus the greenback, following a basket of data from the euro zone and the US today. 

As of 03:45 GMT, EUR/USD rose 0.38% to 1.1388, with a session-high at 1.1409, and a low at 1.1336. 

Earlier euro zone data showed the trade surplus slightly down to 16.7 billion euros from 16.9 billion in May, while analysts expected 17 billion.

The seasonally unadjusted reading showed a surplus of 22.5 billion, up from 16.9 billion, and above estimates of 16.5 billion. 

Otherwise, earlier US data showed housing starts rose 1.5% to an annualized 1.311 million units in July, edging out estimates of a 1.4% increase to 1.310 million. 

Building permits rose 0.9% last month to an annualized 1.168 million units, compared to a 12.9% slump in June to 1.158 million, while missing expectations of a 7.4% increase to 1.260 million. 

An index tracking the manufacturing sector in Philadelphia fell to 11.9 from 25.7 in July, missing estimates of 21.9.  

US unemployment claims fell a thousand to 212 thousand in the week ending August 11, compared to 214 thousand in the previous reading, while analysts expected 215 thousand. 

Continuing claims fell 39 thousand in the week ending August 4 to 1.721 million from 1.760 million, beating estimates of 1.740 million.