TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The dollar was on slippery ground on Thursday after the Australian dollar jumped to a 15-month high on strong jobs data that boosted expectations of an interest rate hike next month.
The Aussie was also buoyed by firm commodity prices like gold, which hit a record high for the second straight day. [GOL/]
The dollar was under pressure on expectations that Asia-Pacific finance ministers gathered in Singapore ahead of a summit of their national leaders this weekend were set to call for flexible exchange rates.
The latest draft communique to be issued following their meeting on Thursday calls for "market-oriented" exchange rates and interest rates. [ID:nSP423373]
"The dollar is likely to keep facing selling pressure during the APEC finance ministers meeting," said a trader for a Japanese trust bank.
The 21-member Pacific Rim group includes China, which is under pressure, particularly from the United States, to allow its currency to rise.
Dealers said they were watching further developments after China said it would consider using a basket of currencies, not just the dollar, in guiding the exchange rate of the Chinese yuan CNY=, its clearest signal yet that it was close to letting the yuan appreciate after an 18-month hiatus. [ID:nSP466424]
The dollar index .DXY, a gauge of the greenback's performance against six major currencies, was at 75.032, down 0.2 percent on the day. The index on Wednesday hit a fresh 15-month low of 74.774.
AUSSIE JUMPS ON RATE OUTLOOK
The euro and yen crosses trimmed earlier gains made in tandem with the Aussie's rise after regional stock markets turned negative. But they held firm as traders waited to see if European and U.S. players push the dollar down further when they join the market later in the day.