The dollar edged higher against most major currencies on Friday after a report showed U.S. non-farm jobs decline was smaller than expected in July.
U.S. employers cut 51,000 non-farm jobs in July, the Labor Department reported on Friday. Analysts expected a decline of 75,000. The unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent in June to 5.7 percent, the highest point in more than four years.
The Institute for Supply Management said its index of manufacturing activity hit 50, down from 50.2 in June. It beat a reading of 49.2 expected by economists.
It was widely expected that the U.S. Federal Reserve would hold its key rate unchanged at 2 percent on its monetary policy meeting next week. Investors are focusing on assessment of the economy by the central bank in its statement after the meeting.
The euro bought 1.5548 dollars in late New York trading compared with 1.5593 dollars it bought late Thursday. The British pound fell to 1.9739 dollars from 1.9829 dollars.
The dollar rose to 1.0508 Swiss francs from 1.0478 Swiss francs, and fell to 107.68 Japanese yen from 107.90 Japanese yen.
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