Euro Zone: EUR Books 0.5% Weekly Gain.

The euro ended the week just above $1.14, gaining 0.5% as the dollar weakened following disappointing US nonfarm payrolls. The US economy added only 57,000 jobs last month, far below expectations, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.2% as workers left the labor force. The euro’s advance was capped by softer Eurozone inflation and dovish comments from ECB President Christine Lagarde, which reduced expectations for a third ECB rate hike this year. Markets still favor a second hike as the most likely outcome. June data showed headline inflation slowing to 2.8% from 3.2% in May, below forecasts, while core inflation eased to 2.4%, also missing expectations. At the ECB’s Sintra Forum, Lagarde noted that risks to euro-area inflation and growth had diminished, citing lower energy price pressures from the US-Iran peace deal.