FOREX-Dollar at one-week high as investors seek safety after jobless data

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

(New throughout; changes dateline, previous LONDON)
By Kate Duguid
NEW YORK, April 16 (Reuters) - The dollar hit a one-week
high on Thursday as investors fled to safe-haven assets
following the release of weekly U.S. jobless data showing a
record 22 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits in
the last month.
The dollar rose 0.45% to 100.08, a one-week high against a
basket of six major currencies =USD , after snapping a four-day
losing streak the previous day as equity market gains fizzled.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 1.370
million to a seasonally adjusted 5.245 million for the week
ended April 11, the government said. Record jobless filings
underscore the deepening economic slump caused by the
coronavirus outbreak. Dire U.S. retail and factory data and a nosedive in oil
prices to 18-year lows on Wednesday strengthened the dollar
across the board. Economists are predicting the economy, which
they believe is already in recession, contracted in the first
quarter at its sharpest pace since World War Two.
While stabilizing oil prices helped temper the dollar's
gains, the data outlook was bleak.
"The dollar has fared better this week as record weak data
suggested a longer and more uncertain road to recovery, a dimmer
outlook that's revived appetite for haven assets," said Joe
Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business
Solutions.
The greenback has gained broadly during the crisis as
investors scramble for the safety of the world's reserve
currency, although it is down from its late-March highs since
the U.S. Federal Reserve unleashed a stream of measures to
support the economy.
"In the short term, the dollar is expected to remain firm
because of its safe-haven status and as the global economic
situation remains uncertain," said Andrew Wilson, chairman of
global fixed income at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
"We expect the dollar to underperform in the medium term as
economies start to recover."
U.S. President Donald Trump is due to announce guidelines on
re-opening the country's economy at a press conference later on
Thursday. The euro resumed its drop versus the dollar, down 0.72% at
$1.083 EUR= as a half-trillion-euro compromise deal struck
between euro zone governments last week to support countries
through the coronavirus outbreak is widely seen as insufficient,
especially for debt-laden Italy.
The yen weakened 0.25% against the dollar, as Japan extended
a state of emergency beyond major cities to the entire nation.
JPY= The dollar rose against currencies considered riskier bets,
edging up against the British pound and the Australian and New
Zealand dollars. GBP= AUD= NZD=