iFOREX Daily Analysis : October 02, 2015

 | Oct 02, 2015 05:11AM ET

The dollar moves higher against the euro and the yen early on Friday, as markets await for the release of a highly-anticipated U.S. jobs report later in the day. Investors will be focusing on Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for September, which could help to provide clarity on the likelihood of a near-term interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. The report comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 26 increased by 10,000 to 277,000 from the previous week’s total of 267,000, compared to expectations for a 3,000 rise.

In the European front, the single currency found some support after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said in a speech Thursday that growth in the euro zone is picking up thanks to the central bank’s accommodative monetary policy. In addition, manufacturing data in China fell 0.1 to 47.2 in September, its lowest level in six and a half years. The manufacturing sectors in Germany and the U.K., as well as the euro zone as a whole expanded at a slower rate than expected last month adding to worries over a global economic slowdown.

Elsewhere, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the global community he believes the Iran Nuclear Deal will have dire effects on Israel and increases the likelihood of creating a war in the region. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu criticized a group of Western Powers for reaching an accord with Iran earlier this summer.

EUR/USD

EUR/USD posted modest gains on Thursday, as disappointing manufacturing data around the world weighed on the major currencies resulting in heightened fears of a deepening global recession.

The currency pair traded between a low of 1.1136 and a high of 1.1208, before settling 0.15% higher. The Institute for Supply Management said its index of National Factory Activity fell to 50.2 last month, below expectations for a reading of 50.5. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor said on Thursday that initial jobless claims rose by 10,000 last week to 277,000. Although weekly jobless claims rose at a slightly higher rate than expected, they still remain near 15-year lows. Currency traders now appear hesitant to make any major moves ahead of Friday's critical U.S. jobs report for the month of September.