1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar falls as rate-hike expectation dims

The U.S. dollar decreased against other major currencies Tuesday as the country's downbeat economic data lowered market expectation for an interest-rate hike by year-end.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.66 percent at 95.467 in late trading.

The U.S. international trade deficit in goods and services rose to 48.3 billion dollars in August from revised 41.8 billion dollars in July, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. The latest reading registered the largest expansion in U.S. trade deficit in five months, casting a shadow on the Fed's rate-hike prospect this year.

The soft jobs data released last week added to the worries. The Labor Department announced Friday that U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 142,000 in September, well below market consensus of 203,000.

The average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls in September fell by 1 cent to 25.09 U.S. dollars, also missing estimates.

In late New York trading, the euro rose to 1.1273 dollars from 1.1180 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound climbed to 1.5232 dollars from 1.5150 U.S. dollars in the previous session. The Australian dollar increased to 0.7153 U.S. dollar from 0.7094 dollar.

The U.S. dollar bought 120.27 Japanese yen, lower than 120.47 yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar fell to 0.9670 Swiss franc from 0.9758 Swiss franc and declined to 1.3035 Canadian dollars from 1.3083 Canadian dollars. Endit