Dollar boosted by solid labor data

The dollar received a boost on Thursday after data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting the U.S. labor market remains tight.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lift interest rates by another 25 basis points next week, but the central bank’s next move remains uncertain and the odds of another hike nudged up after the data.

That said, traders look unwilling to commit too strongly ahead of the meeting, with Fed policymakers now in the blackout period.