FOREX-Dollar consolidates gains before U.S. jobless data's release

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

By Iain Withers
LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) - The dollar consolidated its
gains against other currencies on Thursday before the release of
weekly U.S. jobless data, which are likely to provide more
evidence of a deep recession in the world's biggest economy.
The dollar edged up 0.1% to 99.774 against a basket of major
currencies =USD , after snapping a four-day losing streak the
previous day as equity market gains hit a wall.
However, stabilising oil prices and some improvement in risk
sentiment on stock markets helped temper the dollar's gains.
O/R O/R Economists forecast U.S. weekly jobless claims of 5.1
million, lifting total filings during the crisis above 20
million. 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. "The latest economic releases yesterday confirmed that the
COVID-19 shock has sent the U.S. economy into freefall,"
analysts at MUFG said in a note.
U.S. President Donald Trump is due to announce guidelines on
re-opening the country's economy at a press conference later on
Thursday, which could also boost market sentiment. The euro resumed its fall versus the dollar, down a quarter
of a percent at $1.0882. EUR=EBS
A half-trillion-euro compromise deal struck between euro
zone governments last week to support countries through the
coronavirus outbreak may prove insufficient, especially for
debt-laden Italy, analysts say.
"The market has finally come to the conclusion that what the
euro group delivered was not enough," said Ulrich Leuchtmann,
head of FX and commodity research at Commerzbank.
"This shows that the ECB (European Central Bank) is still in
a permanent role to prevent a Eurozone crisis, which is not a
good situation to be in."
The yen also fell a quarter of a percent against the dollar,
as media reports suggested Japan was preparing to extend a state
of emergency beyond major cities to the entire nation.
The dollar gained against currencies considered riskier
bets, edging up against the British pound and Australian and New
Zealand dollars. GBP=D3 AUD=D3 NZD=D3
Oil currencies recovered after Wednesday's selloff on the
stabilising oil price, with the Norwegian crown and Canadian
dollar up by around 0.1%. NOK= CAD=