The dollar was seen strong against the euro when a downgrade rating on portugal added to worries about debt levels. Kathy Lien, director of FX strategy at GFT in New York said: "Downgrades of sovereign debt ratings are a very big deal, but in an environment where investors are already weary of holding let alone buying euros, Fitch’s decision to lower Portugal’s rating added salt to the wound."
Michael Woolfolk, the senior currency strategist at BNY Mellon in New Yorksaid: "The US data was taking a back seat to general, speculative buying of the US dollar after euro-dollar trades had a big technical breakdown overnight. The downgrade of Portugal was a good excuse to keep selling euros."
The euro was down 1.3 percent at $1.3324. The dollar was 1.9 percent higher at 92.15 yen.
:rolleyes: