US consumer confidence improves in December
The University of Michigan's survey showed that the US consumer confidence index improved during this month.
The preliminary reading showed that consumer confidence increased to 99.2 points in December vs. 96.8 in November, higher than forecasts of 96.9.
Which comes amid optimism about a near signing of the phase one of the trade deal with China.
Japanese yen shrugs off strong dollar, rises on upbeat data
The Japanese yen rose on Friday, after strong data in Japan, shaking off a strong US dollar that was lifted by a strong US jobs report.
The Japanese economy revealed today that household spending in fell by 5.1% last month, lower that forecasts of a drop by 3.1%, while the average income rose by 0.5%, higher than forecasts of 0.2%.
The US Department of Labor revealed that the economy has added 266K new jobs in November, higher than forecasts of 181K jobs, which has pushed Wall Street and the dollar higher.
The White House chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that the US and China are engaged in intensive talks and are getting close to reaching a trade deal.
As for trading, USD/JPY fell 0.2% to 108.5 as of 20:29 GMT, the pair hit an intraday high of 108.9 and a low of 108.5.
Dollar jumps on upbeat US jobs data
The US dollar rose against most major currencies on Friday, after the release of the monthly jobs report in the US, which showed strong data for November.
The US Department of Labor revealed today that the economy has added 266K new jobs in November, higher than forecasts of 181K jobs.
The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly last month to a 50-year low of 3.5% from 3.6% in October.
The White House chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that the US and China are engaged in intensive talks and are getting close to reaching a trade deal.
But Kudlow warned that the Trump administration is ready to end these talks if the deal is no good for Washington.
Otherwise, the dollar index rose against a basket of currencies by 0.3% to 97.7 points as of 18:39 GMT, and hit an intraday high of 97.8 and a low of 97.3.
Gold sheds more than 1% after strong US jobs data
Gold prices fell on Friday, after the release of a robust monthly jobs report in the US that pushed the stock market and dollar higher, and dented gold's safe-haven appeal.
The US Department of Labor revealed today that the economy has added 266K new jobs in November, higher than forecasts of 181K jobs, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% (50-year low) from 3.6%.
This came after the White House chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that the US and China are close to reaching a trade deal.
Otherwise, the dollar index rose against a basket of currencies by 0.3% to 97.7 points as of 19:15 GMT, with a high of 97.8 and a low of 97.3.
Gold futures for February delivery lost 1.2% or $18 to close at $1,465.10 an ounce, and posted a weekly loss of 0.6%, with an intraday high of $1,485.3 and a low of $1,463.3.