US dollar mixed on downbeat nonfarm payrolls

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against other major currencies on Friday as the latest nonfarm payroll report from the country came out weaker than expected.

U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in August, below market consensus of 175,000, and the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday.

In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to 25.73 U.S. dollars. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.4 percent.

Analysts said the closely-watched nonfarm payroll report has greatly dented market expectation for an interest-rate hike as early as September, but it is solid enough to spur speculation for a December-hike.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, was up 0.20 percent at 95.849 in late trading.

In late New York trading, the euro fell to 1.1161 dollars from 1.1202 dollars of the previous session, and the British pound increased to 1.3296 dollars from 1.3275 dollars. The Australian dollar climbed to 0.7566 dollars from 0.7554 dollars.

The dollar bought 103.98 Japanese yen, higher than 103.27 yen in the previous session. The dollar increased to 0.9804 Swiss francs from 0.9796 Swiss francs, and it inched down to 1.2999 Canadian dollars from 1.3103 Canadian dollars.

Source : XINHUA