1336 GMT - Dollar holds steady versus key currencies as US Labor Department reports that initial claims rose to 390,000 in Jan. 26 week, while the 4 week average fell to its lowest in nearly 6 months.
- Greenback stays within recent ranges a day after Federal Reseve holds benchmark interest rates steady at 1.75 percent, bringing a yearlong easing campaign to an apparent end. Analysts say the Fed seemed poised to cut rates again if needed.
- Euro/dollar hovers near 86.30 cents, 0.2 percent firmer on the day. Single currency gets little help from news that consumer prices in Germany rose sharply last month, between 0.8 - 1.2 percent and 1.8 - 2.3 percent on an annual basis.
- Greenback buys C$1.5835 , off 0.30 percent from previous U.S. close and below last week's record high of C$1.6188.
- Dollar/yen flirts with 133 yen , little changed on the day. Euro/yen up more than 0.30 percent, hovers around 114.40 yen .
- Dollar also supported by Wednesday's report that showed the U.S. economy grew in the fourth quarter of last year, at an annualized rate of 0.2 percent, defying predictions of a sharp contraction in the wake of Sept. 11.