Peso advances after employment report in the US and closes first positive week of 2023

The Mexican peso was valued against the American dollar on the day of Friday. The currency gained ground in a market buoyed by a key US jobs report that allowed the currency to extend its gain in its first positive week of the year.

The exchange rate ended the day at the level of 19.1580 units compared to a close of 19.3298 units per dollar yesterday, with official data from the Bank of Mexico (Banxico). This meant for the local currency an advance of 17.18 cents, equivalent to 0.89 percent.

Against the record of 19.5089 units last Friday, the peso accumulated an advance of 35.09 cents, which are equivalent to 1.80%, in its first positive week of 2023.

The crossing operated in an open range with a maximum of 19.3470 units and a minimum of 19.1203 pesos not seen since the beginning of December. The Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback with a basket of six reference currencies, fell 1.08% to 103.90 points.

The US nonfarm payrolls report released earlier in the day indicated the world’s largest economy continued to post a strong pace of job creation in December, with 223,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate dipping to 3.5 percent.

The Mexican currency benefited from a weaker dollar after employment data sent Treasury yields lower by also showing wage growth slowed, supporting bets for lower inflation.

jose.rivera@eleconomista.mx