09:00 AM EDT, 05/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The US dollar remained under pressure near session lows against major currencies like the euro and pound while pushing higher against the Japanese yen and Swiss franc after durable goods orders came in stronger than expected for April.

EUR/USD climbed to new intraday highs above 1.0840 and GBP/USD remained buoyant near session highs of 1.2725 while funding currencies like the Japanese yen and Swiss franc fell to new session lows immediately after the Census Bureau said durable goods orders rose 0.7% in April to $284.1 billion.

Orders were down from the 0.8% increase seen in March but far above expectations for a 0.8% decline. April's outturn was the result of a broad-based increase in orders of manufactured durable goods, which rose 0.4% excluding aircraft orders and 0.3% ex-defense spending.

The US dollar was quoted lower against all G10 currencies except the Japanese yen and Swiss franc following the release, while also carrying losses against most G20 currencies with the only exception being the Chinese renminbi.

The dollar's declines came amid widespread gains for stock indices around the world and losses for government bond markets, indicating robust risk appetite among investors who showed a preference for 'high beta' currencies on Friday.