2014.08.1921:56:56UTC+00US dollar touches 9-month peak on strong housing data

The US dollar reached nine-month peak against the euro and climbed against major counterparts Tuesday following US housing figures boosted expectations for earlier interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve.

According to the Commerce Department, US housing starts rallied 15.7% to an annual 1.09 million unit pace in July, hitting two straight months of decreases.

The Consumer Price Index advanced 0.1% last month following it accelerated 0.3% in June. In the 12 months through July, the CPI ascended 2.0% after it advanced 2.1% in June.

The greenback dropped 0.33% at $1.3318 to the euro. It climbed 0.32% at ¥102.91 and rose 0.26% at 0.9088 Swiss franc.