Data hauls dollar off two-month low, stocks push higher

A steady pick-up in underlying U.S. consumer price pressures and the lowest new unemployment claims in 42 years helped allay fears of a new bout of disinflation and settled some nerves after Goldman Sachs became to latest major Wall Street name to report a plunge in profits. "There seem to be considerable expectations of further economic stimulus, which could mitigate some of the deflationary pressures," said Gerry Alfonso, analyst at Shenwan Hongyuan Securities.