Foreign exchange market. American session: the U.S. dollar traded lower against the most major currencies after the mostly weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data

The U.S. dollar traded lower against the most major currencies after the mostly weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data. The U.S. producer price index increased 0.2% in March, in line with expectations, after a 0.5% drop in February. It was the first increase since October 2014.

On a yearly basis, the producer price index decreased 0.8% in March, after a 0.6% fall in February. It was the first decline since 2009.

The rise was driven by higher energy prices which jumped 1.5% in March.

The producer price index excluding food and energy climbed 0.2% in March, exceeding forecasts of a 0.1% increase, after a 0.5% decrease in February.

The increase was driven by a 0.1% gain in final demand services.

On a yearly basis, the producer price index excluding food and energy climbed 0.9% in March, after a 1.0% rise in February.

The U.S. retail sales rose 0.9% in March, missing expectations for a 1.1% increase, after a 0.5% decline in February. It was the largest increase since March 2014. February's figure was revised up from a 0.6% decrease.

The gain was driven by car purchases. Automobiles sales increased 2.7% in March.

Retail sales excluding automobiles increased 0.4% in March, missing forecasts for a 0.7% rise, after a flat reading in February. February's figure was revised up from a 0.1% decline.

The U.S. business inventories rose 0.3% in February, missing expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a flat reading in January. December's figure was revised up from a 0.1% rise.

The increase was driven by a rise in retail inventories. Retail inventories climbed 0.4% in February.

The euro traded higher against the U.S. dollar. Industrial production in the Eurozone rose 1.1% in February, exceeding expectations for a 0.3% increase, after a 0.3% drop in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.1% decline.

On a yearly basis, Eurozone's industrial production gained 1.6% in February, beating forecasts of a 0.5% rise, after a 0.4% increase in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.2 gain.

Concerns over Greece's debt problems continue to weigh on the euro.

The British pound traded higher against the U.S. dollar. The U.K. consumer price index remained at zero in March, in line with expectations.

Consumer price inflation excluding food, energy, alcohol and tobacco prices fell to 1.0% in March from 1.2% the month before. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 1.2%.

The Retail Prices Index declined to 0.9% in March from 1.0% in February, in line with expectations.

The consumer price inflation is below the Bank of England's 2% target.

The New Zealand dollar climbed against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the kiwi traded higher against the greenback after the release of business confidence for New Zealand. New Zealand Institute of Economic Research's (NZIER) business confidence for New Zealand was 23% in the first quarter, down from 24% in the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter's figure was revised up from 23%.

The senior economist at NZIER, Christina Leung, said that the companies "are still fairly optimistic".

The Australian dollar rose against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the Aussie traded mixed against the greenback after the solid business confidence index from Australia. The National Australia Bank's business confidence index jumped to 6 in March from 2 in February.

The Japanese yen traded higher against the U.S. dollar. In the overnight trading session, the yen traded higher against the greenback on comments by the economic adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Koichi Hamada. He said on Monday that a level around 105 would be appropriate for the yen, based on purchasing power parity.

There were released no major economic reports in Japan.