NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar swung lower after a disappointing report from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve that prompted fears of weaker US industrial activity than economists had been expecting.
The euro climbed to 1.2182 dollars at 2100 GMT, up from 1.2151 late on Wednesday in New York.
The dollar slipped to 109.61 yen from 109.99 on Wednesday.
The Philly Fed's activity index fell to 13.4 from 28.5 in August, suggesting growth below cooling in US manufacturing. That along with a mixed bag of other economic news left the greenback lacking momentum.
"Once again, the results are inconclusive, and the fog regarding exactly where the economy is headed persists," said Steve Stanley, an economist with RBS Greenwich Capital.
Bear Stearns currency strategist Steve Barrow said the dollar's movements were very limited as the major currencies stayed "well ensconced within their ranges".
"Data releases are simply giving a bit of volatility within the ranges," he said, adding that this was possibly due to data being very mixed and failing to give any clear picture of where the US economy was going.
According to figures released by the US Treasury Department, net foreign long-term capital flows into the US fell to 64 billion dollars (52.5 billion euros) in July from 74 billion in June, a level nonetheless considered sufficient to cover the US current account deficit.
Concerns over how the US would fund its ever-increasing current account deficit have pressured the dollar in recent months.
"Despite the monthly fall, the TICS capital flows report still suggests that foreign buying of long-term US securities probably continued to cover the current account deficit in July," said CALYON currency strategist Kristjan Kasikov.
The data followed softer-than-expected US inflation figures which suggested the Federal Reserve may be more cautious in raising interest rates next year, analysts said.
Core US consumer prices rose just 0.1 percent in August, below expectations for a rise of 0.2 percent.
In late New York trade, the dollar stood 1.2680 Swiss francs from 1.2697 Wednesday.
The pound was at 1.7926 dollars from 1.7767 Wednesday.