Forexpros – The dollar firmed against the world’s major currencies in Asian trading on Thursday, strengthening on stronger-than-expected private sector jobs numbers in the U.S. and also on Japanese balance of payments data as well as on weak Australian jobs figures.
In Asian trading on Thursday, the euro was down against the greenback, with EUR/USD down 0.07% and trading at 1.3141.
U.S. payroll processing firm ADP in the U.S. on Wednesday reported that non-farm private-sector employment rose by a seasonally adjusted 216,000 jobs in February, beating expectations for an increase of 205,000.
January’s figure was revised up to a gain of 173,000 from a previously reported increase of 170,000.
The news pumped up hopes that official unemployment rates due out Friday will come in solid as well.
Also in the U.S., consumer credit figured exceeded expectations as well.
Total consumer credit grew by $17.8 billion in January, well above market expectations for a $10.0 billion increase.
Meanwhile in Europe, fears tempered that private creditors were balking at restructuring their debts with the Greek government before a March 8 deadline.
While the market won’t breathe a sigh of relief until Greece’s private debt is restructured, most private creditors appeared to be willing to restructure to terms agreed upon earlier this year.
Private investors are set to forgive Greece 53.5% of their principal and swap their remaining holdings for new Greek bonds and notes from the European Financial Stability Facility.
Meanwhile in Japan, the government reported a current account deficit that was worse than expected, while gross domestic product figures came in line with expectations, contracting by 0.2% in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile in Australia, the number of employed people fell by 15,400 in February.
The Canadian dollar was stronger on sentiment the central bank will keep interest rates unchanged.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand left its official cash rate unchanged at 2.5%.
Meanwhile, the dollar was down against the pound, with GBP/USD down 0.06% and trading at 1.5733.
The greenback was up 0.16% against the yen, with USD/JPY trading at 81.22, and up against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF up 0.04% and trading at 0.9170.
The greenback was mixed against its cousins in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with USD/CAD down 0.07% at 0.9968, AUD/USD down 0.17% at 1.0567 and NZD/USD down 0.04% at 0.8161.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.06% at 79.78.
Later Thursday, the U.S. is to produce government data on initial jobless claims.
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