🍎 🍕 Less apples, more pizza 🤔 Have you seen Buffett’s portfolio recently?Explore for Free

Dollar gains on solid February U.S. jobs report

Published 03/07/2014, 03:21 PM
EUR/USD
-
GBP/USD
-
USD/JPY
-
USD/CHF
-
AUD/USD
-
USD/CAD
-
NZD/USD
-

Investing.com - The dollar moved higher against most major currencies on Friday after data revealed the U.S. economy created more payrolls than expected in February.

In U.S. trading on Friday, EUR/USD was up 0.05% at 1.3867.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier that the U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in February, beating expectations for a 149,000 increase.

January's figure was revised up to 129,000 from 113,000.

The U.S. private sector added 162,000 jobs last month, exceeding expectations for a 154,000 rise. January's figure was revised up to 145,000 from 142,000.

The report also showed that the U.S. unemployment rate ticked up to 6.7% in February, from 6.6% the previous month. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged last month.

Meanwhile, data also showed that the U.S. trade deficit expanded to $39.1 billion in January, from $38.98 billion in December, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated deficit of $38.7 billion.

Analysts had expected the trade deficit to expand to $39.00 billion in January.

The data sent the dollar gaining, as the Federal Reserve has said it will pay close attention to data when deciding on how quickly it will dismantle its monthly bond-buying program.

Fed bond purchases, currently set at $65 billion a month, weaken the dollar by suppressing interest rates that aim to spur recovery by encouraging investing and hiring.

Still, dollar didn't soar, as many investors have already priced in expectations for the Fed to continue winding down stimulus measures as the year unfolds.

Meanwhile in the euro zone, official data earlier showed that German industrial production rose 0.8% in January, more than the expected 0.7% increase. Industrial production in December was revised up to a 0.1% gain from a previously estimated 0.6% fall.

Elsewhere, the dollar was up against the yen, with USD/JPY up 0.24% at 103.32, and down against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF down 0.29% at 0.8778.

The greenback was up against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.10% at 1.6722.

The dollar was up against its cousins in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with USD/CAD up 1.04% at 1.1096, AUD/USD down 0.25% at 0.9067 and NZD/USD down 0.19% at 0.8460.

The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.09% at 79.74.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.