Dollar recovering after overnight losses

DOLLAR lower but recovering from overnight losses after the greenback was boosted by US jobless data.

The dollar is down after better-than-expected US jobless claims figures boosted the greenback. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

THE Australian dollar remains lower but is recovering from overnight losses after the greenback was boosted by better-than-expected US jobless data.

At 12pm AEST today, the local unit was trading at 91.49 US cents, down from 91.71 cents yesterday.

Commonwealth Bank currency strategist Peter Dragicevich said the Australian dollar fell overnight after the greenback was boosted by better-than-expected US jobless claims data.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped 15,000 last week to a seasonally-adjusted 320,000, the fewest since October 2007 - a sign of dwindling lay-offs and steady, if modest, job growth.

But the Australian dollar was bouncing back today, Mr Dragicevich said.

"The Aussie has picked up a little bit. There's no real catalyst for it," Mr Dragicevich said.

"Given the relatively quiet remainder of the trading week, we don't expect the Aussie to move out of its recent range, so it should hover around 91.50 and 91.40."

Meanwhile, the bond market was also weaker.

At 12pm AEST, the September 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.045 (implying a yield of 3.955 per cent), down from 96.100 (3.900 per cent) yesterday.

The September three-year bond futures contract was at 97.220 (2.780 per cent), down from 97.270 (2.730 per cent).

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