Forex - Aussie up ahead of jobs data, yen gains before machinery orders

Investing.com - The Aussie dollar gained in Asia early Thursday with a busy data day ahead on jobs and the yen strengthened a tad ahead of machinery orders.

AUD/USD traded at 0.7726, up 0.12%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 120.43, down 0.01%. EUR/USD traded at 1.1347, up 0.11%.

In Australia, Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Guy Debelle is due to speak at a FX Week conference in Sydney at 0900 (2200 GMT).

Later, February MI inflation expectations are due at 1100 (0000 GMT), which is likely to show a further fall in expectations following drop in headline CPI in the fourth quarter.

At 1130 (0030 GMT), the January labor force survey is expected to show unemployment ticked up to 6.2% from 6.1% and 5,000 jobs were lost with a participation rate unchanged at 64.8%.

In Japan, December machinery orders and January CGPI are due at 0850 Tokyo time (2350 GMT) with a forecast for private-sector core orders of up 2.7% on month, which would be a second straight rise. CGPI is seen up 1.1% on year, the 22nd straight year-on-year rise.

Overnight, the dollar pushed higher against the other major currencies on Wednesday, as sentiment waned amid mounting concerns over whether Greece will reach a compromise deal with creditors to extend its bailout program.

Greece’s current bailout is due to expire on February 28 and the new Greek government does not want it extended, fuelling concerns that a conflict with international creditors could trigger the country’s exit from the euro zone.

Athens was expected to ask for a bridge loan to cover its funding needs until September, and to also propose new economic reforms to replace 30% of its massive bailout deal.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's government won a confidence vote on Tuesday evening and reiterated that he will deliver on pre-election pledges to roll back austerity measures and reject an international bailout extension.

The yen weakened slightly after Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the Group of 20 nations didn't criticize his bank's monetary easing program, indicating confidence to continue on the path of monetary stimulus.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was quoted at 94.92, down 0.26%.