MUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee is expected to start higher on Friday boosted by gains in other regional currencies and traders will watch the stock market for direction. * At 0250 GMT, the index of the dollar against six major currencies was down 0.05 percent at 74.923 points. It was at 75.201 when the local market closed on Thursday. * The euro kept a tentative grip on overnight gains in Asia on Friday cheered by the European Central Bank's pledge to provide Portuguese banks with liquidity, but trading is likely to be subdued ahead of the highly anticipated U.S. jobs report. [USD/] * The rupee is expected to open around 44.35 per dollar and move in a 44.30 to 44.50 band, dealers said. It had closed 0.11 percent stronger on Thursday at 44.425/435. * Traders said volume would be light ahead of the U.S. June non-farm payrolls data due at 1230 GMT which would set the tone for the rupee for the coming week. * The MSCI index of Asian stocks ex-Japan was trading up 0.8 percent and the Nifty India futures traded in Singapore were 0.4 percent higher, suggesting a firm open in the local market. (Reporting by Swati Bhat; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)
