Dollar set for biggest weekly drop since April
LONDON (REUTERS)
The US dollar was heading towards its biggest weekly loss in 12 weeks on Friday after Thursday's US jobs report cooled market expectations for a near-term Federal Reserve interest rate hike, providing relief for the Japanese yen.
Broad dollar weakness lifted the euro to $1.1440, after it hit a nearly two-week high the day before. It was up 0.5% on the week.
The pound firmed to $1.3352 for a 1.1% weekly gain, its best in nearly three months.
The stronger dollar also offered respite for the Japanese yen, which strengthened to less than 161 per dollar, but markets remained nervous about intervention risks after a sudden jump on Thursday lifted the currency from a 40-year low of 162.84. It was last at 161.25.
US Jobs Growth Slows
The dollar fell after US job growth slowed sharply in June and payroll gains for the prior two months were revised lower, prompting traders to trim bets on a near-term Fed rate rise.
Markets are pricing in about a 45% chance for a hike at the September meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
US Treasuries were closed on Friday for the Independence Day holiday.