• The dollar slid broadly on Thursday, hampered by a recent dip in U.S. 10-year bond yields, while commodity-linked currencies were bolstered by this week’s rally in metals and oil prices.
The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies slipped to as low as 92.734, its weakest level in almost four weeks.
The index has dropped more than 9 percent this year, putting it on track for its biggest annual slide since 2003.
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield stood at 2.425 percent on Thursday, having come off a nine-month high of 2.504 percent set last week.
The euro rose 0.4 percent to $1.1929. The single currency has gained more than 13 percent so far this year, well on the way for its best annual performance since2003.
Against the yen, the dollar slid 0.5 percent to 112.78 yen.
• Special counsel Robert Mueller may continue with his investigation into President Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia far longer than the White House has planned.
In conversations with friends and advisors, the president has said that the investigation would wrap up early in 2018, CNN reported in December. One of the president's lawyers, Ty Cobb, told The Washington Post in mid-November that the probe would likely finish shortly after the new year.
But experts and precedent suggest the investigation could last well into 2018, if not longer, meaning that one of the biggest clouds over Trump's nascent presidency and the Republican majority in Congress could continue to cast a pall as midterm elections approach.
• The U.S. holiday shopping season is on track to break sales records on the back of surging consumer confidence and increased use of mobile devices, presenting an unexpected boon for retailers and the delivery companies they rely on.
The holiday shopping season, a crucial period for retailers that can account for up to 40 percent of annual sales, brought record-breaking online and in-store spending this year of more than $800 billion (597 billion pounds), according to Mastercard Inc’s (MA.N) analytics arm.
• British businesses reported a pickup in growth in the three months to December but they expect a slowdown in early 2018 as high inflation takes its toll on households, the Confederation of British Industry said on Thursday.
The CBI’s monthly growth indicator - based on surveys of how companies’ output has changed over the previous three months - jumped to +19 in December from +6in November, which was the joint lowest level in more than a year.
• China’s finance ministry said on Thursday profits reinvestment by foreign firms in China will temporarily be exempted from provisional income tax.
• Oil prices were stable on Thursday with trading activity drying up ahead of the New Year weekend.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $59.69 a barrel at 0336 GMT, up 5 cents from their last settlement. WTI broke through $60 a barrel earlier this week, the first time since June 2015.
Brent crude futures were at $66.50 a barrel, up 6 cents. Brent broke through $67 earlier this week, the first time since May 2015 this week.
WTI received support from a report by the American Petroleum Institute (API) showing a 6 million barrel drop in crude oil inventories to 432.8 million.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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