Investing.com - The euro was almost unchanged against the dollar on Tuesday after data showing that U.S. factory orders rose broadly in line with forecasts in June, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of Friday’s U.S. jobs report for July.
EUR/USD was last at 1.0956, holding below the day’s highs of 1.0987.
The dollar showed little reaction after the Commerce Department reported that factory orders rose 1.8% in June, in line with the consensus forecast.
Investors were looking ahead to the latest U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, due to be released on Friday. Economists are expecting that the report will show jobs growth of 215,000 last month.
Monthly jobs gains above 200,000 are seen by economists as consistent with strong employment growth.
The Federal Reserve has said a strengthening labor market is a key factor in deciding when to raise short term interest rates.
The dollar had softened following the release of disappointing U.S. economic reports on Monday.
Official figures showed that U.S. consumer spending slowed in June and a separate report indicated that manufacturing activity moderated in July.
Other data showed that U.S. construction spending rose at the slowest rate in five months in June.
In the euro zone, Athens said Tuesday that it expects to conclude a bailout deal by August 18.
The main Athens stock index fell 1.3% on Tuesday after a record 16% drop in the previous session, with banking shares, which comprise about 20% of the Greece index, hardest hit.
Trading on the Athens bourse reopened on Monday following a five week shutdown.
Elsewhere, the dollar was steady against the yen, with USD/JPY at 124.05.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was at 97.58, little changed for the day.