Asian currencies experienced a mixed week against the dollar, with the yen and the Australian unit losing ground while the peso and baht moved ahead.
JAPANESE YEN: The yen lost ground slightly against the dollar during the week on better-than-expected US factory orders, dealers said.
The Japanese unit stood at 109.53 to the greenback late Friday, compared with 109.12 a week earlier.
"The dollar was supported by the steady factory orders," said Tetsuya Aida, dealer at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. The US unit was also supported by demand from Japanese banks but its gains were limited as investors were reluctant to take positions before Friday's US employment report for August, Aida said.
On Tuesday, the yen dropped to an intraday low of 110.22 yen in Tokyo on weaker-than-expected Japanese industrial output data in July, which was flat from June.
But the yen recovered part of the loss after the dollar failed to attract follow-through support, dealers said.
"The dollar's advance, following the weaker-than-expected Japanese production figure, was short-lived," said Masashi Shiraishi, foreign exchange dealer at Himawari Securities. "After that, exporters and US funds began selling the dollar."
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR: The Australian dollar is tipped to struggle against the greenback next week after US jobs figures raised expectations the Federal Reserve will lift US interest rates, dealers said.
The currency finished the week at 69.73 US cents, down more than a cent on the previous week's 70.77 US cents.
With Australian interest rates likely to remain on hold amid campaigning for an October 9 national election, dealers said higher US interest rates would hurt the Australian currency.
Westpac Bank senior dealer Daniel Baird said the Australian dollar had already been looking weak with the election creating an uncertain backdrop for the money markets.
"It hasn't been trading very well at all in the last couple of sessions," he said. "What is in the foreground is US data and a US recovery."
The Reserve Bank of Australia holds its monthly monetary policy meeting Tuesday but most analysts believe interest rates will not rise until after the election.
NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR: New Zealand's dollar closed Friday worth 65.13 US cents, slightly down on the 65.63 cents close of a week earlier.
A Bank of New Zealand currency spokesman said the kiwi dipped on news of weaker than expected retail sales numbers in Australia. Below 65 cents briefly there was good demand for kiwi, a BNZ currency trader said. "From there, in the case of kiwi, we've seen a rally back through 65 cents."
SINGAPORE DOLLAR: The US dollar was at 1.7025 Singapore dollars on Friday from 1.7109 the previous week.
HONG KONG DOLLAR: Hong Kong's US-pegged dollar was at 7.7989 on Friday, from 7.775 the previous week.
INDONESIAN RUPIAH: The Indonesian rupiah ended the week little changed at 9,270-9,280 to the dollar compared with 9,275-9,285 the previous week.
PHILIPPINE PESO: The Philippine peso rose to 56.090 to the dollar on Friday afternoon, compared to 56.155 on August 27.
SOUTH KOREAN WON: The won closed at 1,150 won per dollar, compared with 1,153 won a week earlier.
TAIWAN DOLLAR: The Taiwan dollar rose 0.46 percent over the week to end at 33.907 against the greenback Friday. It finished at 34.065 a week earlier.
The unit stood at 34.079 Monday and closed at 34.053 Tuesday. It ended at 33.963 Wednesday and finished at 33.920 Thursday.
THAI BAHT: The Thai baht rose against the greenback, boosted by gains in the local stock market, dealers said.
The baht closed Friday at 41.52-54 to the dollar compared to the previous week's close of 41.60-62.