Rates At 0517 GMT Latest Change AUD/USD 1.0269 +0.04% AUD/JPY 79.728 -0.04% 6.50% May, 2013 3.2192% -0.03 4.50% Mar, 2020 3.7962% -0.02 10-Yr Spread To U.S. +189 bps +5 bps SFE Dec 3-Year Futures 96.84 +0.04 SFE Dec 10-Year Futures 96.05 +0.05 SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--The Australian dollar was a touch higher late Thursday against its U.S. counterpart but had to overcome headwinds early on after news that full-time employment fell in November, pushing unemployment higher. The economy shed 39,900 full-time jobs in November, nudging unemployment to a seasonally-adjusted 5.3% from 5.2% in October, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. "For the Reserve Bank of Australia these data support the board's decision to cut rates on Tuesday, and, in our view, provide a more accurate sense of the true momentum in the economy," said Adam Boyton, chief economist at Deutsche Bank. The RBA cut rates to 4.25% from 4.50%. The currency slumped to an intraday low of US$1.0229 after the data. At 0517 GMT, the Australian dollar was trading at US$1.0269, up from US$1.0264 late Wednesday. Against the yen, it changed hands at Y79.728, down from Y79.76. But the only real focus for traders remains on Europe and whether leaders there can agree on measures to bolster fiscal integration in the region and shore up the euro-zone. "News from the two-day Euro Group leaders summit starting tonight will be the key driver of risk-appetite and hence the Australian dollar over the next 48-hours," said John Kyriakopolous, chief FX strategist at National Australia Bank. "The direction of euro-zone bond yields will likely be the cue for a risk-on/risk-off conclusion," he said. At a scheduled meeting, the European Central Bank is expected to lower its main policy target though markets also expect the bank to take wider steps too. "Rarely has there been so much expectation ahead of an ECB meeting: interest rates, liquidity for banks, sovereign bond purchases...there is room for rejoicing, but also for possible disappointment," said strategists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in a note. -By Enda Currana and James Glynn, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8272-4685; enda.curran@dowjones.com james.glynn@dowjones.com (Data provided by Reuters)

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