Investing.com - The dollar remained mostly lower against the other major currencies on Friday, after data showed that the U.S. economy added far less jobs than expected last month, although tapering of the Federal Reserve's stimulus program still lent some support.
The dollar dropped against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.64% to 104.17.
The dollar weakened broadly after official data showed that the U.S. economy added 74,000 jobs in December, compared to expectations for a 196,000 increase, after an upwardly revised 241,000 rise the previous month.
The U.S. private sector added 87,000 jobs last month, disappointing expectations for 195,000 rise, after an upwardly increase of 226,000 in November.
The report also showed that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.7% in December, from 7.0% in November. Analysts had expected the rate to remain unchanged last month.
The euro was higher against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.50% to 1.3676.
Official data earlier showed that industrial production in France climbed 1.3% in November, exceeding expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a downwardly revised 0.5% decline the previous month.
The report came a day after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi reinforced the bank’s forward guidance on rates and said the bank was still ready to ready to take "further decisive action" if needed.
The pound steady against the dollar, with GBP/USD easing up 0.07% to 1.6492.
Official data showed that U.K. manufacturing production was flat in November, disappointing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a downwardly revised 0.2% uptick the previous month.
The dollar was lower against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF sliding 0.56% to 0.9018.
In Switzerland, data showed that consumer price inflation fell 0.2% in December, compared to expectations for a 0.1% slip, after a flat reading in November.
The greenback was mixed against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD gaining 0.88% to 0.8977, NZD/USD advancing 0.36% to 0.8282 and USD/CAD climbing 0.73% to 1.0921.
Demand for the loonie was hit after official data showed that the number of employed people in Canada dropped by 45,900 in December, confounding expectations for a 15,000 rise, after an upwardly revised 34,800 increase the previous month.
Canada's unemployment rate rose to 7.2% last month, from 6.9% in November, compared to expectations for an uptick to 7.0%.
The export-related currencies came under pressure earlier, as data showed that China's trade surplus narrowed to USD25.6 billion in December, from USD33.8 billion the previous month, compared to expectations for a surplus of USD31.1 billion.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.41% to 80.74.
The dollar dropped against the yen, with USD/JPY down 0.64% to 104.17.
The dollar weakened broadly after official data showed that the U.S. economy added 74,000 jobs in December, compared to expectations for a 196,000 increase, after an upwardly revised 241,000 rise the previous month.
The U.S. private sector added 87,000 jobs last month, disappointing expectations for 195,000 rise, after an upwardly increase of 226,000 in November.
The report also showed that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.7% in December, from 7.0% in November. Analysts had expected the rate to remain unchanged last month.
The euro was higher against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.50% to 1.3676.
Official data earlier showed that industrial production in France climbed 1.3% in November, exceeding expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a downwardly revised 0.5% decline the previous month.
The report came a day after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi reinforced the bank’s forward guidance on rates and said the bank was still ready to ready to take "further decisive action" if needed.
The pound steady against the dollar, with GBP/USD easing up 0.07% to 1.6492.
Official data showed that U.K. manufacturing production was flat in November, disappointing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a downwardly revised 0.2% uptick the previous month.
The dollar was lower against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF sliding 0.56% to 0.9018.
In Switzerland, data showed that consumer price inflation fell 0.2% in December, compared to expectations for a 0.1% slip, after a flat reading in November.
The greenback was mixed against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD gaining 0.88% to 0.8977, NZD/USD advancing 0.36% to 0.8282 and USD/CAD climbing 0.73% to 1.0921.
Demand for the loonie was hit after official data showed that the number of employed people in Canada dropped by 45,900 in December, confounding expectations for a 15,000 rise, after an upwardly revised 34,800 increase the previous month.
Canada's unemployment rate rose to 7.2% last month, from 6.9% in November, compared to expectations for an uptick to 7.0%.
The export-related currencies came under pressure earlier, as data showed that China's trade surplus narrowed to USD25.6 billion in December, from USD33.8 billion the previous month, compared to expectations for a surplus of USD31.1 billion.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was down 0.41% to 80.74.