FOREX-Dollar lifted by jobs data, but records third straight weekly loss

(Recasts with weekly finish; updates prices; adds analyst
quote)
By Kate Duguid
NEW YORK, June 5 (Reuters) - The dollar was modestly higher
on Friday after data showed the U.S. labor market unexpectedly
improved in May, but the currency ended the week lower, for a
third consecutive week, as uncertainty about the U.S. economy
capped gains.
The Labor Department's employment report showed the jobless
rate fell to 13.3% last month from 14.7% in April, which was a
post-World War Two high. It came on the heel of surveys showing
consumer confidence, manufacturing and services industries
stabilizing. Economic conditions have significantly improved as
businesses have begun to reopen after shuttering in mid-March to
slow the spread of COVID-19. The U.S. dollar index =USD late Friday was up 0.18% to
96.93. It was down 1.4% from last Friday's close. On the day,
the dollar was 0.38% stronger against the euro EUR= , at
$1.129. Against the safe-haven Japanese yen JPY= , the dollar
was up 0.44% to 109.61 yen.
"Today you've seen better-than-expected economic data coming
out of the U.S. in terms of the jobs numbers," said Chuck Tomes,
portfolio manager at Manulife Asset Management. "The reaction on
the back of that has been expectations of better growth coming
out of the U.S. as well as a steepening yield curve, both of
which have provided a lift to the dollar."
The uncertainties about the economic outlook and the
possibilities of a second wave of infections had capped the
greenback's gains, Tomes added.
Some analysts said the May job gains in might not soon be
repeated.
"While this was no doubt a great jobs report, a lot of good
news was already priced in. Future estimates and expectations on
the economic rebound are likely higher from here and therefore
harder to meet or beat," said Matt Miskin, co-chief investment
strategist at John Hancock Investment Management.
The dollar's strengthening was less visible against the
euro, and in the dollar index, which heavily weights the euro,
after the single currency rose following the European Central
Bank's announcement Thursday that it was expanding its stimulus
program.
The euro jumped 1.73% this week, its third straight weekly
rise, though it was lower on the day.