The US dollar strengthened against a basket of currencies

The US dollar strengthened against a basket of currencies, but weakened against the Japanese yen after modest US private job-losses. Data from ADP Employer Services showed employers cut 298,000 private sector jobs in August, shy of the 250,000 job losses analysts had forecasted, but better than the 360,000 jobs lost in July. Data from outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc indicated layoffs at US firms fell 21% in August, which stoked hopes for improved consumer