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Forex - Aussie flat ahead of RBA rate review, NKorea eyed

Published 05/09/2017, 08:34 am
Updated 05/09/2017, 08:36 am
© Reuters.  Aussie flat in Asia
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Investing.com - The Aussie was flat in early Asia on Tuesday ahead of the latest central bank review of interest rates with investors keeping an eye out for political risk events on the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was last quoted down 0.27% to 92.57.

AUD/USD traded at 0.7945, flat, while USD/JPY changed hands at 109.69, down 0.03%.

In Asia, Australia reports its current account with a A$8.1 billion surplus seen in the second quarter. Later China's Caixin services PMI for August is die with a reading of 51.8 expected.

The RBA interest rate decision is expected to see the central bank hold steady at a record low 1.50%.

Last week, the dollar remained broadly lower against the other major currencies on Monday, as Friday's disappointing U.S. employment data continued to weigh and as fresh threats from North Korea dominated investors' attention.

Trading volumes were expected to remain light with U.S. markets closed for the Labor Day Holiday.

The greenback came under pressure after the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday that the economy added 156,000 jobs in August from the prior month, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4%.

Economists had expected 180,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.

The report indicated that the Fed may be more reluctant to raise interest rates again before the end of the year.

The safe-haven yen and Swiss franc were higher, with USD/JPY down 0.62% at 109.58 and with USD/CHF retreating 0.96% to trade at 0.9555.

Risk sentiment waned after North Korea said on Sunday that it had conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb intended to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Pyongyang called the test a complete success, with a greater yield than previous tests and no adverse impact on the environment.

The news prompted U.S. to warn of a "massive" military response if it or its allies were threatened.

U.S. President Donald Trump also threatened to cut off trade with any country doing business with North Korea.

Investors also continued to follow developments in the U.S. oil market, as about 5.5% of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico's oil production, or 96,000 barrels of daily output, remained shut on Sunday after storm system Harvey made landfall in Texas more than a week ago.

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