July 8, 2006	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 11, 1427

LONDON, July 7: The dollar fell on Friday on news that fewer US jobs were created than expected in June, suggesting that the pace of economic growth there might be easing. The euro climbed to $1.2818 in late European trading from $1.2778 late on Thursday in New York.

The dollar eased to 114.03 yen from 115.10 yen on Thursday.

Divyang Shah, global strategist at HBOS, said the payroll figure was an important market event but stressed that inflation data were more important at present.

Elsewhere, the euro continued to make marginal headway in the wake of a strong hint on Thursday that the European Central Bank would raise its core interest rate by a quarter point at a meeting on August 3.

The euro was changing hands at $1.2818 against 1.2778 on Thursday, 146.12 yen (147.11), 0.6927 pounds (0.6955) and 1.5673 Swiss francs (1.5698).

The dollar stood at 114.03 yen (115.10) and 1.2229 Swiss francs (1.2282).

The pound was being traded at $1.8506 (1.8371).—AFP