Euro pushes higher vs dollar in midday
The euro pushed higher in midday London trade ahead of a string of US data amid a lack of fresh leads to trade on, dealers said.
On the economic calendar today, November US consumer price indices and housing starts, are both due at 1.30 pm, and industrial production figures at 2.15 pm.
Economists forecast inflation at the consumer level will remain low and stable in November, with no concern about deflation. The consensus forecast is for a 0.2% rise in the CPI in November and a 0.2% rise in the core rate, excluding food and energy prices.
Meanwhile housing starts are expected to rise 0.4% to 1.69 million in November after falling sharply in October, but remain well below September's 16-year high reading.
Separately, US industrial production is seen rising 0.2% in November, while capacity in use is expected to remain steady at 75.4 from the previous month. Excluding autos, production may decline for the third out of the last four months.
Analysts said such an outcome will indicate that a recovery in capital spending is still some way off, which is likely to weigh on the greenback.
