1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar rises on robust data

The U.S. dollar climbed against most major currencies on Friday as data for consumer sentiment from the country came out better than expected.

The final reading of the U.S. consumer sentiment in June increased to 96.1 from May's final reading of 90.7, according to the monthly Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumers Friday. The latest figure beat market consensus of 94.6.

Analysts said recent string of upbeat data from the country has been bolstering market expectation for an interest-rate hike this year. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, was up 0.24 percent at 95.417.

Investors also eyed on Greek debt situation. Official statement said on Friday that the eurogroup meeting on Greece will reconvene in Brussels on Saturday, which will be the fifth one in ten days tasked with looking for a solution for Greek debt crisis. Analysts said time is running out for Greece and creditors before the country has to repay a 1.6-billion-euro to the IMF by the end of this month.

In late New York trading, the euro fell to 1.1160 dollars from 1.1203 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound slipped to 1.5731 dollars from 1.5732 dollars in the previous session. The Australian dollar went down to 0.7652 dollars from 0. 7741 dollars.

The U.S. dollar bought 123.85 Japanese yen, higher than 123.61 yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar traded flat at 0.9364 Swiss francs, and it rose to 1.2323 Canadian dollars from 1.2320 Canadian dollars. Endite