Reuters

The euro jumped to a 9-day high on Thursday as the European Central Bank broadly stuck to its outlook for growth and inflation while outlining concerns about the single currency’s strength.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits jumped to its highest level in more than two years last week amid a surge in applications in hurricane-ravaged Texas.

The European Central Bank reaffirmed its ultra-easy policy stance on Thursday, even keeping the door open to increasing bond purchases, dashing hopes it would formally signal its intent to claw back stimulus from next year.

China said on Thursday it agreed the United Nations Security Council should take further actions against North Korea in the wake of its latest nuclear test, while continuing to push for more dialog to resolve the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

Sterling inched lower on Thursday, with dealers citing growing resistance to any further recovery against the dollar on a day set to be dominated by events in Europe and the United States.

The euro will hold on to most of this year’s gains over the next 12 months, according to a poll of foreign exchange strategists, who also said a further 5 percent rise in the currency would discomfit the European Central Bank.

Gold held steady early on Thursday, supported by a weaker dollar and lingering concerns over North Korea, as markets awaited the outcome of the ECB policy meeting later in the day.

The euro held firm on Thursday ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision, with the focus on what the ECB might say about the currency’s recent strength and how that may influence the policy outlook.

Here’s what financial markets are looking for from the ECB’s statement and President Mario Draghi’s press conference.

Asian shares bounced back on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump and congressional leaders unexpectedly agreed to raise the government debt limit until December, eliminating the near-term risk of a government shutdown.