The dollar traded near the highest level in 10 weeks against the yen before the U.S. is forecast to report the fastest jobs growth in four months. Labor Department data today will probably show U.S. employers added 200,000 positions last month, the biggest increase since November, according to the median estimate of economists in a Bloomberg News poll. The unemployment rate may have fallen to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent previously.
The euro touched the lowest in a month against the greenback yesterday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi strengthened his pledge that policy makers were ready to take further steps to counter any risk of deflation. The ECB’s Draghi said yesterday that European policy makers “do not exclude further monetary policy easing,” after the central bank kept its refinancing rate at a record-low 0.25 percent. A discussion about quantitative easing, or large-scale purchases of assets intended to bolster prices and economic growth, wasn’t neglected, Draghi said at a press conference in Frankfurt yesterday.
The New Zealand dollar was set for the biggest weekly drop in two months.
EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.3710
GBP / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.6580
USD / JPY: on Asian session the pair traded in the range of Y103.85-95
Halifax house price data due at 0700GMT provides early domestic interest ahead of new car registrations at 0800GMT. US NFP release (1230GMT).