The dollar extended gains against the yen on Thursday after data showed initial U.S. weekly jobless claims came in lower than expected.

The dollar rose to 90.23 yen JPY= after the data from around 90.10 yen prior to the release of the data. The euro was little changed at $1.4924 EUR= from $1.4925 just before the release of the data.

The U.S. Labor department reported that initial state jobless benefit claims fell to 502,000 in the latest week from a revised 514.000 in the prior week. The consensus forecast was for initial claims of 510.000.

United States Vs Unemployment U.S.