The U.S. dollar was higher next to its all of its major equivalents on Thursday, boosted by appreciably better-than-anticipated U.S. employment data and higher U.S. Treasury yields.

Throughout European late afternoon forex trading, the greenback was up next to the euro, with EUR/USD reducing 1.01% to hit 1.3592.

Previously in the day, Portuguese borrowing costs increased over 7% for the fifth consecutive day, earlier than falling back amid unconfirmed reports the European Central Bank was buying the bonds to halt the climb.

The greenback was also up next to the pound, with GBP/USD shedding 0.23% to hit 1.6065.

The Bank of England’s monetary policy committee kept its benchmark interest rate unaffected at a record low of 0.5% earlier Thursday.

Elsewhere, the greenback was up next to the Swiss franc and the yen, with USD/JPY jumping 1.1% to hit 83.26 and USD/CHF soaring 1.18% to hit 0.9689.

Official data released earlier Thursday showed that Swiss inflation unpredictably slowed in January as the franc’s appreciation helped push down the cost of imported goods.

In accumulation, the greenback was up next to its Australian, Canadian and New Zealand equivalents, with USD/CAD increasing 0.19% to hit 0.9957, AUD/USD tumbling 0.92% to hit 1.003 and NZD/USD plunging 0.9% to hit 0.7652.

Previously in the day, official data showed that Australian full-time employment dropped in January, fueling concern the economy is growing too leisurely to prompt the central bank to raise interest rates.

The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.82%.

As well Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department said the number of individuals filing for preliminary jobless benefits last week fell to a seasonally adjusted 383K, the lowest level as July 2008, surpassing prospects for a drop to 413K.

Forex Pros – The U.S. dollar edged up to three-week high next to the Swiss franc on Wednesday, subsequent to China’s interest rate rise on Tuesday had a inadequate impact on the outlook for global growth going forward.

USD/CHF hit 0.9654 during European morning forex trading, the pair’s highest as January 21; the pair consequently consolidated at 0.9639, easing up 0.08%.

The pair was probable to find support at 0.9522, Tuesday’s low and resiatance at 0.9686, the high of January 21.

The People’s Bank of China unpredictably elevated its benchmark interest rate for the third time since mid-October on Tuesday, as Beijing stepped up efforts to curb soaring inflation and ward off a property bubble.

The move by Chinese policymakers to rein in inflation and let growth to carry on at a more sustainable pace was viewed in a positive light by the markets, which until recently have tended to see any tightening in China as a danger to global growth.

The Swissie was also down next to the euro, with EUR/CHF increasing 0.2% to hit 1.3151.

Later on in the day, the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke was to testify previous to the Budget Committee in Washington.