The dollar maintained a firm tone overall early Friday, after the government said the U.S. economy lost 598,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rose to 7.6%. While both numbers were worse than economists had forecast, some in the market were bracing for even more job losses, analysts said. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. unit against a major of six major currencies, stood at 86.268, compared with 85.722 in late trade Friday.