USD/JPY fell to June 23 lows amid a lack of data from Japan today due to a bank holiday and ahead of US data, while US-China tensions mount. 

As of 06:00 GMT, USD/JPY fell 0.41% to 106.42, marking month lows at 106.36. 

US manufacturing Index is expected up to 52 from 49.8, while the services is expected up to 51.0 from 47.9. 

US new home sales are expected up 0.4% to 700 thousand units, compared to a 16.6% surge in May. 

China asked the US to close the Chengdu consulate in retaliation of the shutdown of the China Houston consulate. 

Otherwise, US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin asserted his government's work to stabilize the dollar, with the White House preparing a $2 trillion package to counter Covid 19 impact and bolster jobs. 

White House councilor Anthony Fauci said it's unlikely the Coronavirus will ever be completely defeated, however the world can contain its impact by vaccines and herd immunity and maintaining healthy habits. 

The World Health Organization reported over 15.01 million Covid 19 infections worldwide so far, with 619,150 dying. 

The British pound inched higher against he US dollar on Thursday, on the renewed concerns and uncertainty over the Brexit file.

British negotiators stressed that very little progress was made in the talks with the European Union on on post-Brexit relations, after the formal withdrawal in January 31, and the start of the transitional period that concludes by the end of 2020.

Analysts expect the British pound to remain under pressure in the next few days due to the uncertainty about this vital file.

Negotiators from both sides met in several rounds during July to reach a common understanding on future relations.

The EU chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, said that significant divergences remain, and there is still no common ground to pave the way for a fair agreement with London.

As of 19:13 GMT, GBP/USD rose less than 0.1% to 1.2742, after the pair hit a high of 1.276 and a low of 1.2674.

Corn prices rose on Thursday, as the US dollar slumped against most major currencies, amid focus on China's demand and purchases of US agricultural commodities, despite the escalating tensions between the two countries.

Investors continued to focus on the Chinese commitment to purchase more US farm goods in compliance with the first phase of the trade deal, which requires China to buy around $40 billion of US farm goods.

This came after the US has ordered the Chinese Foreign Ministry to close its consulate in Houston in order to protect American intellectual property from Chinese piracy, and Beijing threatened to respond to the move.

The dollar index fell against a basket of currencies by 0.4% to 94.6 points as of 20:51 GMT, after it hit a high of 95.1 and a low of 94.5.

Corn September futures rose 0.1% to close at $3.28 a bushel, after hitting a high of $3.29 and a low of $3.25.

Silver prices on Thursday, retreating after back-to-back gains and a nearly 7-year high.

 Silver did not take advance from the US dollar's slump and the sharp losses in the stock markets, which should lift safe-haven demand for precious metals.

The US Department of Labor showed showed today that the unemployment claims rose during the last week for the first time since March, to reach 1.416 million.

The dollar index fell against a basket of currencies by 0.4% to 94.6 points as of 20:01 GMT, after it hit a high of 95.1 and a low of 94.5.

Silver September futures fell 0.7% or 16 cents, and closed at $22.988 an ounce, after gaining 7.4% yesterday and closing at the highest level since 2013 above the $23 barrier, with today's high at $23.67 and the low at $22.475.