Dollar steady in Asia

TOKYO: The dollar held steady in Asia Thursday ahead of key US jobs data seen as crucial for the timing of the Federal Reserve’s stimulus pullback, while the euro treaded water as European central bankers meet later in the day.

The greenback bought 102.34 yen in midday Tokyo trading, little changed from 102.32 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.

The euro fetched $1.3584 and 139.08 yen, against $1.3591 and 139.06 yen.

The dollar got a lift Wednesday after payrolls firm ADP reported US private-sector hiring surged in November, with a net 215,000 new jobs created, the strongest month so far in 2013 and well above analyst expectations.

Other US data also came in better than anticipated, including a sharp rebound in new-home sales and a shrinking foreign trade deficit, helping to offset a slowdown in services-sector growth.