LONDON, Feb 1 - Sterling slid against the dollar for a second consecutive day on Friday as optimism grew that forthcoming U.S. data would offer further signs of a U.S. recovery. Expectations the U.S. economy will bounce back faster than its European counterparts have increased on a raft of upbeat reports this week. Dealers were now waiting for U.S. employment, manufacturing and consumer sentiment data later in the day. The pound was down a quarter percent at $1.4075 in early European trade, within half a cent of two-month lows set earlier this week. It stood at 60.95 pence per euro , having hit one-month highs around 60.70 pence in Asian trade. Comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on Thursday that he had no sympathy for U.S. manufacturers who complain about dollar strength was also giving the greenback support. "The foreign exchange markets are increasingly pricing in the chance of an early U.S. rebound," said Steven Saywell, currency strategist at Citibank. "O'Neill's comments gave the dollar a big lift overnight and are the clearest indication yet that the United States will not curb dollar strength." A report from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research which predicted Britain's economy would grow by a robust 2.1 percent in 2002 had little impact on the market.