Dollar Advances Vs. Yen After GDP, Employment Costs Data

The dollar advanced against the yen on Friday while paring an earlier decline against the euro after preliminary data showed a modest expansion in U.S. economic growth during the first quarter. The dollar climbed 0.3% to 111.55 yen in recent trade, while the euro pared an earlier drop, buying $1.0926 in recent trade. The greenback traded at 111.26 yen and $1.0874 late Thursday in New York. The U.S. GDP expanded by 0.7% in the first quarter, just slightly below a consensus forecast of 0.8% from a survey of economists conducted by MarketWatch. Economic growth during the first quarter has been weak in recent years. Meanwhile, the employment cost index, a leading indicator for inflation, advanced 0.8% during the quarter, besting expectations for a 0.6% increase.