FOREX-Dollar steady before data; yen slips despite GDP surprise

The dollar held steady on Thursday as investors waited for data on U.S. retail sales and jobless claims, while the yen climbed despite the Japanese economy falling into a recession. Retail sales data, due at 1330 GMT (8.30 a.m. ET), will provide more clues about the direction of the U.S. economy after inflation came in hotter than expected on Tuesday. Tuesday's price figures caused investors to rein in their expectations for Fed rate cuts, triggering a jump in bond yields and the dollar.