Dollar
The U.S. dollar hit a more than one-month low against the Swiss franc and trimmed gains against the yen on Thursday on concerns over Deutsche Bank, while increased expectations for a December Federal Reserve rate hike kept the greenback generally afloat.
Bloomberg, citing an internal bank document, reported on Thursday that about 10 hedge funds that use Deutsche Bank's prime brokerage service have moved part of their listed derivatives holdings to other firms this week.
Traders saw a 56.4 percent chance that the Fed would hike in December, up from a 53.1 percent chance on Wednesday, according to CME Group's FedWatch program.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was last up 0.09 percent at 95.518 .DXY.
U.S. economy less sluggish in 2nd qtr; companies investing more
U.S. economic growth was less sluggish than previously thought in the second quarter as exports grew more than imports and businesses raised their investments, hopeful signs for the economic outlook.
Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.4 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Thursday in its third estimate of GDP. That was up from the 1.1 percent rate it reported last month and higher than analysts' expectations.
U.S. jobless claims rise less than expected
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week and held at relatively healthy levels that could support Federal Reserve plans to raise interest rates this year.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 254,000 for the week ended Sept. 24, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the report to show 260,000 new claims.
The four-week moving average of new claims, which smoothes out volatility, fell 2,250 to 256,000.
Fed can be patient in weak global environment: Powell
Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell said on Thursday the U.S. economy is in "solid shape" but that the Fed can be patient in approving any interest rate increase because of the weak global environment.
"We can continue to be patient," Powell said. "We are in a global environment in which growth is weak and there are deflationary forces."
Powell said he agreed that if the economy continues on its current course, the Fed should raise rates gradually.
Fed's Esther George: It's time to remove some accommodation
Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George told CNBC the most recent economic data on Thursday shows growth continuing to move forward.
In a "Squawk Box" interview, she said it's time to remove some accommodation. She added that a Fed funds overnight lending rate of 1 percent would still be considered accommodative. The range of the Fed funds rate is currently 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent.
George, a voting member on the Fed's policymaking panel this year, had advocated raising interest rates at September's meeting. "I base that off of looking where the job market is progressing [and] looking at the progress inflation is making."
Fed's Harker backs December rate hike if economy stays on track
December's U.S. Federal Reserve meeting would be an appropriate time to raise interest rates if the economy continues to move in the direction that it anticipates, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said on Thursday.
Harker said that he would have been very comfortable with a rate hike in September but that there was some disagreement among colleagues on how much slack remained in the labor market and when and by how much the Fed would exceed its 2 percent inflation target.
Oil rises close to $50/bbl; doubts on OPEC plan cap gains
Oil jumped more than 1 percent on Thursday, with Brent nearing $50 a barrel on optimism over OPEC's first planned output cut in eight years, although gains were limited by doubts the reduction would make a substantial dent in the global crude glut.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 78 cents, or 1.7 percent, to settle at $47.83 after touching a one-month high at $48.32.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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