Dollar hit by poor US retail sales data

London

THE dollar fell on Thursday to its weakest against a basket of major currencies since the European Central Bank announced a programme of quantitative easing in January, hit by growing concern that the US economy has not just been suffering from a winter chill.

The euro surged past US$1.14 for the first time since February in early trade in Europe. Sterling, resurgent since UK elections last week, hit a six-month high of US$1.5815.