Investing.com - The dollar remained moderately higher against the other major currencies in quiet trade on Monday, supported by Friday’s upbeat U.S. employment report, although concerns over turmoil in China persisted.
USD/JPY rose 0.38% to 117.88, after falling to lows of 116.68 overnight, the weakest since August 24.
The yen weakened after China’s central bank moved to support the yuan, but another steep drop in Chinese shares overnight added to fears over the outlook for the world’s second largest economy.
Earlier Monday, the People’s Bank of China set the daily midpoint rate for the yuan higher against the dollar. It was the second day the bank guided the yuan stronger, following eight days of weaker guidance.
The move alleviated concerns over weakness in China’s currency, but shares in China tumbled 5% overnight after the latest inflation figures added to concerns over its economy.
EUR/USD slid 0.35% to 1.0905, off Friday’s lows of 1.0801.
The greenback remained supported after the Labor Department reported on Friday that the U.S. economy added 292,000 jobs last month, after increasing an upwardly revised 252,000 in November. Economists had forecast payrolls to rise by 200,000.
The unemployment rate held steady at a seven-and-a-half year low of 5% in December.
The report bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates at a faster pace this year. Higher U.S. interest rates would make the dollar more attractive to yield-seeking investors.
Elsewhere, the dollar was lower against the pound, with GBP/USD up 0.41% at 1.4584 but was higher against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF adding 0.26% to 0.9974.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars were stronger, with AUD/USD up 1.05% at 0.7023 and with NZD/USD gaining 0.40% to 0.6570.
Meanwhile, USD/CAD dropped 0.58% to trade at 1.4091, still close to last week’s 12-1/2 year peak of 1.4171.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was up 0.18% at 98.63.