A report showed manufacturing sales in the Mid-Atlantic region expanded in August for the first time in 10 months, creating optimism about a recovery. It reduced the demand for safe currencies. The dollar and yen edged lower Thursday on foreign exchange trading. In recent months, the dollar and yen have tended to fall when markets grow more optimistic and as investors buy higher-yielding and riskier assets and currencies.

The Canadian dollar rose to its highest price in about a week after Goldman Sachs recommended buying the currency against the U.S. dollar. The firm said “U.S. fundamentals will not improve sufficiently this year, genuine and broad dollar strength will not yet materialize. The Canadian dollar looks attractive, given its strong exposure to oil"

U.S. and European stocks rose, following a 4.5% tendency in the Shanghai Composite Index, which drop about the same amount as previous days. China's stock market had fallen 20% over the last two weeks; it is still a source of concern in financial markets.