Investing.com - The dollar rose broadly against the other major currencies on Friday, as the release of upbeat U.S. employment reports boosted demand for the greenback and investors turned to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's press conference.
The dollar rose against the euro, with EUR/USD down 0.31% to 1.3616.
The greenback found support after the U.S. Department of Labor said non-farm payrolls rose by 288,000 last month, easily surpassing expectations for an increase of 212,000. The previous month’s figure was revised up to a gain of 224,000 from a previously reported increase of 217,000.
The unemployment rate ticked down to a four-and-a-half year low of 6.1% from 6.3% in May. Analysts had expected the jobless rate to hold steady at 6.3% last month.
The Labor Department also said that initial jobless claims rose by 2,000 to 315,000 for the week ending June 28, compared to expectations for an increase to 314,000. The prior week's claims were revised to show 1,000 more applications received than previously reported.
A separate report showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $44.39 billion in May, from $47.04 billion in April, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated deficit of $47.20 billion. Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to $45 billion in May.
In the euro zone, the ECB said it was maintaining its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.15%, in line with market expectations. The central bank also held its marginal lending at 0.40% and left its deposit facility rate unchanged at -0.10%.
Earlier Thursday, official data showed that retail sales were flat in May, compared to expectations for a 0.2% rise, after a 0.2% fall in April, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 0.4% increase.
The pound was lower against the dollar, with GBP/USD slipping 0.23% to 1.7121.
The Markit U.K. services purchasing managers’ index slowed to 57.7 in June from 58.6 in May, and below forecasts of 58.3. It was the lowest reading in three months, but remained well above the 50 level separating growth from contraction.
The dollar was higher against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY rising 0.32% to 102.10 and with USD/CHF gaining 0.42% to 0.8926.
The greenback was steady to higher against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD down 1.02% to 0.9348, NZD/USD sliding 0.39% to 0.8738 and USD/CAD inching up 0.02% to 1.0665.
In Canada, official data showed that the trade deficit narrowed to C$0.15 billion in May, from C$0.96 billion in April, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated deficit of C$0.64 billion. Analysts had expected the trade deficit to narrow to C$0.30 billion in May.
The Australian dollar weakened earlier after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens said the currency was "overvalued" by most measures.
Meanwhile, official data showed that retail sales in Australia fell 0.5% in May, confounding expectations for a 0.3% rise, after a 0.1% slip in April, whose figure was revised down from a previously estimated 0.2% increase.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.10% to 80.05.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to publish a report service sector activity.