Foreign exchange – Greenback holds nears highs after U.S. knowledge

Investing.com – The dollar remained steady near nine-month highs against the other major currencies on Thursday, following the release of mixed U.S. economic reports as expectations for a rate hike later this year continued to underpin demand.

The , which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was at 98.58, holding below Tuesday’s nine-month peak of 99.09.

The index has rallied 3.4% so far this month as hawkish remarks by Fed officials in recent weeks cemented expectations for a December rate hike.

Data on Thursday showed that in September.

, which include transportation items, dropped 0.1% last month, the Commerce Department said.

But excluding defense spending, durable-goods orders rose by . Stripping out transportation, orders rose 0.2%.

Core capital goods orders, viewed as a key measure of business investment slumped 1.2% last month, the largest drop since February and were down 4.1% on a yearly basis.

A separate report showed that fell by last week, pointing to sustained labor market strength and firming economic growth.

The reports came as investors were turning their attention to Friday’s data on U.S. third quarter growth, which is expected to show a significant rebound from the second quarter.

Investors are currently pricing in a 67.5% chance of a rate hike at the Fed’s December meeting; according to federal funds futures tracked by Investing.com’s Fed Rate Monitor Tool.

Expectations for higher interest rates typically boost the dollar by making the currency more attractive to yield-seeking investors.

Sterling was lower after data on third quarter growth indicated that of the June 23 Brexit referendum.

initially touched highs of 1.2271 before slipping to 1.2226.

Britain’s service sector, which makes up three quarters of the economy, expanded in the three months to September, but activity in other sectors contracted.

Meanwhile, the dollar was near three-month highs against the yen, with up 0.34% to 104.82.

The euro was little changed, with last at 1.0914.