(In first bullet point and paragraphs 1 and 3, corrects ADP
data to January, not December. In paragraph 3, please read
"lower than job gains of 271,000 in December" instead of "in
November")
* ADP report shows 213,000 job gains in January; dollar
gains
* Fed seen on hold, focus on statement
* Chinese currency surges to six-month high
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The dollar edged higher on
Wednesday, bolstered by data showing strong U.S. private sector
jobs growth for January, but gains were capped on caution ahead
of the Federal Reserve's statement at the conclusion of its
policy meeting later in the session.
The dollar index advanced for a second straight session,
paced by gains against the euro and yen.
Payrolls processor ADP reported that the U.S. private sector
added 213,000 jobs in January. That beat forecasts for gains of
178,000, but the monthly total was lower than job gains of
271,000 in December.
"The 213,000 rise in the ADP measure of private employment
in January suggests that the wider disruption to the economy
caused by the government shutdown was modest," said Andrew
Hunter, senior U.S. economist, at Capital Economics in London.
After the report, the market turned its focus to the Fed,
which is expected to hold rates steady.
Capital Economics' Hunter said Fed comments after the
meeting will probably emphasize patience, suggesting a March
rate hike is off the table.
"But with financial conditions easing and strong jobs growth
likely to keep downward pressure on the unemployment rate, we
still think the Fed will hike rates once more this year,
probably at the late-April/early-May meeting," he added.
In mid-morning trading, the dollar index rose 0.1 percent to
95.958.
The dollar rose 0.2 percent against the yen to 109.67
, and was up 0.4 percent versus the Swiss franc at 0.9987
franc.
The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.1412. The European
Central Bank is expected to hold off tightening until year end.
"Our three-month forecast for euro/dollar is between
$1.14-$1.16 levels as we don't expect changes from either of the
two major central banks (Fed, ECB)," said Antje Praefcke, a
currency strategist at Commerzbank based in Frankfurt.
YUAN RISES
The Chinese yuan traded in the offshore market gained 0.3
percent to a six-month high of 6.7257 yuan.
The United States and China begin two days of talks in
Washington on Wednesday.
Turnover in the Australian dollar and the yuan jumped last
year as trade tensions fueled greater trading volumes.
========================================================
Currency bid prices at 9:46AM (1446 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1414 $1.1430 -0.14% -0.48% +1.1452 +1.1407
Dollar/Yen JPY= 109.6500 109.3800 +0.25% -0.55% +109.7300 +109.2200
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 125.17 125.04 +0.10% -0.83% +125.2700 +124.8900
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9985 0.9943 +0.42% +1.74% +0.9994 +0.9944
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.3078 1.3066 +0.09% +2.52% +1.3121 +1.3062
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3213 1.3265 -0.39% -3.11% +1.3283 +1.3212
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7186 0.7153 +0.46% +1.94% +0.7204 +0.7151
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1397 1.1368 +0.26% +1.27% +1.1408 +1.1368
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8725 0.8747 -0.25% -2.88% +0.8757 +0.8715
NZ NZD= 0.6826 0.6833 -0.10% +1.62% +0.6856 +0.6822
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 8.4827 8.4951 -0.15% -1.81% +8.5094 +8.4784
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.6832 9.7136 -0.31% -2.25% +9.7233 +9.6830
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.0864 9.0673 +0.04% +1.37% +9.0990 +9.0506
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.3710 10.3665 +0.04% +1.04% +10.3990 +10.3527
(Additional reporting by Saikat Chatterjee in London; Editing
by David Gregorio)
