Investing.com - The Aussie held stronger on Friday in Asia with no major data shceduled and investors on hold ahead of weekend Chinese retail sales and industrial production for August.
AUD/USD traded at 0.7075, up 0.13%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 120.87, up 0.22%.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a trade-weighted basket of currencies, was flat at 95.55.
Overnight, the dollar slipped lower against the other major currencies on Thursday amid ongoing uncertainty over whether the Federal Reserve will hike rates this month following the release of weak U.S. inflation data.
The Labor Department said U.S. import prices declined 1.8% last month as the cost of petroleum and a range of goods fell. It was the largest decline in seven months.
In a separate report, the Labor Department said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits last week fell by 6,000 to 275,000 from the previous week’s revised total of 281,000, remaining in territory consistent with a strengthening labor market.