Dollar Ticks Up After US Housing Starts Data

Brussels (Dec 18)   The Commerce Department said its housing starts rose 109,100 and building permits rose 100,700 in November. Economists expected housing starts to come in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 925,000, while building permits were estimated at 995,00.

The US dollar edged higher against its major rivals after the report. As of 8:33 am ET, the greenback was trading at 103.09 against the yen, 0.8890 against the Swiss franc, 1.6364 against the pound and 1.3732 against the euro.