Publications
Partners
Tokyo - The dollar rose on Friday as traders focused on key US jobs data later in the day, with an upbeat report likely to boost hopes for a September interest rate hike.
In Tokyo, the greenback ticked up to ¥124.79 from ¥124.73 in New York.
The euro edged down to $1.0917 and ¥136.22 from $1.0923 and ¥136.25.
Investors are eyeing official US payroll figures later on Friday for the latest clues about the timing of an interest rate hike, widely expected by September or December.
READ: US jobless claims edge up, labour market strong
"The dollar is set to test the year high against the yen if payrolls are as expected or exceed forecasts, with markets taking it as a green light for a September rate hike," Mitsuhiro Yoshida, an officer for global markets at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, told Bloomberg News.
Analysts expect the US economy added 229 000 jobs in July.
READ: Healthy forecast US job gains may favour rate hike
After a two-day meeting, the Bank of Japan on Friday held off fresh easing measures, saying the world's number three economy was steadily recovering, but analysts widely expect policymakers to act later in the year.
The British pound, which fell in New York on the Bank of England's (BoE) monetary policy decision to keep interest rates low, was steady in Asian trading. It fetched $1.5516 in Tokyo against $1.5513 in US trade.
The BoE, as expected, kept its main interest rate at a record-low 0.50%. The central bank raised its forecast for British economic growth this year to 2.8% from a previous estimate of 2.5%.
However, it also said the near-term outlook for inflation is "muted", according to BoE minutes.
The dollar mostly strengthened against other Asia-Pacific currencies.
It rose to Sg$1.3863 from Sg$1.3843 on Thursday, to Tw$31.67 from Tw$31.64, to 63.83 Indian rupees from 63.77 rupees.
The greenback also inched up to 13 548.00 Indonesian rupiah from 13 524.50 rupiah, and to 45.80 Philippine pesos from 45.78 pesos.
It edged down to 1 167.83 South Korean won from 1 169.30 won and to 35.17 Thai baht from 35.18 baht.
The Australian dollar firmed to 73.65 US cents from 73.32c, while the Chinese yuan fetched ¥20.10 against ¥20.09.
