The greenback surged amid the release of the US economic growth figures that went lower beyond projected for the Q4 which is unlikely to discourage Fed from hiking the interest rate during the upcoming week.

The preliminary estimate of first-quarter GDP showed a 1.1% annualized pace for the period. The economy increased at a 2.6% annual rate in the Q4. While economists predicted in a poll conducted by Reuters a 2.0% advance in GDP.

According to a second data released on Thursday by the Labor Department, initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000 for the week ending April 22. Economists predicted 248,000 new claims in the previous week.

The report signalled that the job market was still tight, and it also supported predictions for a rate hike for the upcoming week.

The dollar index that gauges the greenback versus its major pairs climbed by 0.4% to 101.72.

EUR/USD dipped by 0.4% to $1.10.

USD/JPY advanced by 0.3% at 134.04 yen.