Investing.com - U.S. consumer confidence improved more than expected in June, boosting optimism over the health of the economy and supporting the case for a U.S. interest rate hike this year, industry data showed on Tuesday.
In a report, the Conference Board, a market research group, said its index of consumer confidence rose to 101.4 this month from a reading of 94.6 in May, whose figure was revised from a previously reported 95.4. Analysts expected the index to rise to 97.3 in June.
EUR/USD was trading at 1.1197 from around 1.1200 ahead of the release of the data, GBP/USD was at 1.5752 from 1.5754 earlier, while USD/JPY was at 122.37 from 122.29 earlier.
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was at 95.34, compared to 95.30 ahead of the report.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets held on to gains. The Dow 30 rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 tacked on 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.55%.
Elsewhere, in the commodities market, gold futures traded at $1,169.30 a troy ounce, compared to $1,169.80 ahead of the data, while crude oil traded at $58.89 a barrel from $58.94 earlier.