The Australian dollar remains above 93 US cents amid disappointing US economic data last week.

At 0700 AEST on Monday, the local currency was trading at 93.15 US cents, down from 93.27 cents on Friday.

Weekly claims for US unemployment benefits rose by 21,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 311,000, the US Labor Department said.

US retail sales also disappointed.

July sales were virtually unchanged from June, up just 0.1 per cent, official figures showed.

Last week’s disappointing economic releases weighed on the greenback.

Even news of a flare-up in tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with claims that Ukrainian forces destroyed part of a Russian convoy, failed to give the US dollar a boost, said BK Asset Management managing director Kathy Lien.

Mr Lien said the Australian dollar would be in focus this week with the release of the Reserve Bank’s August meeting minutes on Tuesday, Chinese manufacturing figures and semi-annual testimony to parliament from RBA governor Glenn Stevens on Wednesday.

AAP