Investing.com - The dollar remained mostly higher against the other major currencies on Friday, after U.S. industrial production data came in in line with expectations, while markets eyed a final report on U.S. consumer sentiment later in the session.
The dollar was steady against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.01% to 104.33.
Official data showed that U.S. industrial production rose 0.3% in December, in line with expectations, after a 1% increase in November whose figure was revised down from a previously estimated 1.1% gain.
A separate report showed that U.S. building permits declined 3% to 0.986 million units in December, from 1.017 million units the previous month. Analysts had expected building permits to slip to 1.015 million units last month.
Data also showed that U.S. housing starts rose dropped 9.8% to 0.999 million units in December, from an upwardly revised 1.107 million units in November, compared to expectations for a decline to 0.990 million units.
The reports came after U.S. economic data on Thursday was viewed as too soft to prompt the Federal Reserve to speed up the pace at which it tapers monthly asset purchases.
The euro was lower against the dollar, with EUR/USD down 0.34% to 1.3573.
The pound was higher against the dollar, with GBP/USD advancing 0.54% to 1.6441.
Official data earlier showed that U.K. retail sales increased by 2.6% in December, far more than the expected 0.4% rise. Retail sales in November were revised down to a 0.1% rise from a previously estimated 0.3% gain.
The dollar was higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF gaining 0.42% to 0.9086.
In Switzerland, official data showed that producer price inflation was flat last month, confounding expectations for a 0.1% rise, after a 0.1% fall in November.
The greenback was broadly higher against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD sliding 0.36% to 0.8789, NZD/USD tumbling 1% to 0.8272 and USD/CAD adding 0.22% to 1.0955.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.19% to 81.17.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release the preliminary reading of the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index.