By Lisa Twaronite, MarketWatch TOKYO (MarketWatch) — The dollar rose against its major rivals in Asian trading Friday, ahead of the release of key U.S. employment data for December that is expected to be better than previously forecast. Economists polled by MarketWatch are now expecting 175,000 nonfarm jobs created in December, up from 143,000 just a few days ago, in light of some recent positive signs suggesting a brighter number. Read more on U.S. jobs outlook. “A bullish surprise will be the most difficult picture to develop because many will be preparing ahead of time for a high number.” said John Kicklighter, currency strategist at Daily FX. “That said, the majority will be expecting a number closer to the figure economists have set forth; so the further the reading comes above 200,000, the more aggressive the response,” Kicklighter wrote in emailed comments. The unemployment rate is expected to remain steady at 9.8%. The Labor Department will release the data at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Friday. The dollar index (DXY 80.98, +0.19, +0.24%) , which tracks the U.S. unit against a basket of six currencies, rose to 80.901, from 80.802 in late North American trading Thursday. The euro (EURUSD 1.2981, -0.0020, -0.1538%) slipped to $1.2995 from $1.3016 in late North American trading on Thursday. See real-time currency quotes and tools. Against the Japanese currency, the dollar (USDYEN 83.5000, +0.1600, +0.1920%) rose to 83.51 yen, from ¥83.36 late Thursday.

Source