Investing.com - The dollar was little changed against the other major currencies on Wednesday, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and as the release of upbeat economic reports from the euro zone lent broad support to the single currency.
Sentiment on the greenback was vulnerable after President Trump said at a rally in Arizona on Tuesday that he would be willing to shut down the government in order to get the funding needed for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump also warned that he might terminate the NAFTA trade treaty with Canada and Mexico after a first round talks aimed at revamping the trade pact ended with few signs of progress.
EUR/USD rose 0.18% to 1.1782 after data showed that a strong performance from the euro zone manufacturing sector this month offset slower growth in services.
The euro showed little reaction to a speech by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi Wednesday morning in which he defended unconventional monetary policy and said that central banks should continue preparing for new challenges.
The speech came ahead of his appearance at the annual central banking conference in Jackson Hole on Friday. Draghi is not widely expected to deliver any new policy message in his speech despite speculation over how soon the central bank plans to start scaling back its stimulus program.
The yen was higher, with USD/JPY down 0.16% at 109.39, while USD/CHF was little changed at 0.9682.
Elsewhere, GBP/USD fell 0.20% to 1.2797.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars were weaker, with AUD/USD down 0.19% at 0.78972 and with NZD/USD retreating 0.84% to 0.7218.
Meanwhile, USD/CAD edged up 0.10% to trade at 1.2572.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was steady at 93.35 by 06:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. GMT).