NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The dollar rose against most major currencies on Friday as oil prices fell and some U.S. economic data improved.

    The Federal Reserve reported on Friday that U.S. industrial production rose by 0.2 percent in July, slightly better then expectations. Activity in the New York manufacturing sector rose unexpectedly to a positive 2.8 in August from a negative 4.9 in July. Applications for jobless benefits dropped by 10,000 last week, according to the Labor Department.

    Oil prices continued falling on Friday after OPEC lowered its forecast for global oil demand next year. Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell 1.24 U.S. dollars to settle at 113.77 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It briefly touched a three months low of 111.34 dollars.

    The euro bought 1.4680 dollars in late New York trading compared with 1.4813 dollars it bought late Thursday. The British pound fell to 1.8629 dollars from 1.8681 dollars.

    The dollar rose to 1.0976 Swiss francs from 1.0942 Swiss francs, and rose to 110.56 Japanese yen from 109.77 Japanese yen. It fell to 1.0593 Canadian dollars from 1.0632 Canadian dollars.