The Swiss franc firmed against the dollar ahead of much-anticipated US trade deficit data on Friday, holding close to 9-week highs set in the previous session. The US currency has come under pressure ahead of the trade data amid expectations that the trade gap could widen to near record levels. The dollar last traded at 1.1535/40 Swiss francs, down slightly from 1.1541/44 late on Thursday in Europe. The euro changed hands at 1.5484/88 francs, up from 1.5479/84 on Thursday.
Friday's US trade deficit data are expected to show the deficit widened to $56.6 billion in January from $56.4 billion in December, moving back within sight of record levels hit late last year.