1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar mixed amid downbeat data

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against other major currencies on Friday as data from the country came out negative.

U.S. consumer sentiment dropped more than expected in February, data showed on Friday. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan' s preliminary February reading of consumer sentiment index fell to 93.6 from January's 11-year high of 98.1, missing market expectations of 93.6.

The euro dropped earlier in the session, but managed to pared some losses as economic data from the euro zone was overall optimistic. Eurozone's seasonally adjusted gross domestic product increased by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 from the previous quarter, according to flash estimate published Friday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was up 0.09 percent at 94.175 in late trading.

In late New York trading, the euro slipped to 1.1387 dollars from 1.1413 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound declined to 1.5394 dollars from 1.5413 dollars. The Australian dollar went up to 0.7764 dollars from 0.7754 dollars.

The U.S. dollar bought 118.77 Japanese yen, lower than 118.87 yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar edged up to 0.9332 Swiss francs from 0.9315 Swiss francs, and it dropped to 1.2473 Canadian dollars from 1.2478 Canadian dollars. Endite