The U.S. dollar gained against major pairs thanks to strong economic indicators and the end of month and quarter flows. The greenback had a positive week ahead of the Easter holiday. The first week of April will kick off with a plethora of U.S. economic data, the most important of all the U.S. non-farm payrolls. Central banks will get back into action with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), although no changes to monetary policy are expected in the next meeting.

The U.S. economy added only 148,000 jobs in December. Gold prices reacted in a choppy way, confusing some analysts. Why?

U.S. private employers added 298,000 jobs in February, well above economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

U.S. factory activity accelerated to more than a two-year high in January amid sustained gains in new orders and raw material costs, pointing to a recovery in manufacturing as domestic demand strengthens and the drag from low oil prices ebbs.

U.S. private employers added 246,000 jobs in January, above economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

U.S. employment increased less than expected in December but a rebound in wages pointed to sustained labor market momentum that sets up the economy for stronger growth and further interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve this year.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 156,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.7%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth occurred in health care and social assistance. The unemployment rate, at 4.7 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 7.5 million, changed little in December. However, both measures edged down in the fourth quarter, after showing little net change earlier in the year.

Is a 223,000 gain in payrolls enough to push the Federal Reserve to start normalizing its short-term rate of interest in September?

The favorable knee-jerk reaction to this morning's payrolls number spiked up the S&P 500 more than 5 points to 2078.50.