The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest point in a week on news the national unemployment rate rose to 5.4 per cent last month.
At 5pm AEDT today, the Aussie was trading at $US1.051, down from $US1.0553 on Wednesday afternoon.
The currency fell as low as $US1.0494, its lowest point in a week, during the afternoon session.
Commonwealth Bank currency strategist Joseph Capurso said the Australian dollar moved lower following the release of December employment figures, which showed the unemployment rate rose to 5.4 per cent, from 5.3 per cent in November.
"It dropped immediately following the data then rebounded, and then continued moving lower," Mr Capurso said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed total employment fell 5500 in December.
Mr Capurso said it had also been a weak session for risk assets such as the Australian dollar across the globe.
"The euro is also weaker and the Japanese yen is stronger so it's been a risk-off kinda day," he said.
He said the release of Chinese gross domestic product figures tomorrow should provide a boost for the Australian dollar.
"I think it will be a better day and that should see us move back towards that $US1.055 level," Mr Capurso said.
At 5pm AEDT, the Australian dollar was at ¥93.23, up from ¥93.03 yesterday, and at 79.12 euro cents, down from 79.41 euro cents.
Meanwhile, Australian bond futures prices have rallied in the wake of the jobs figures and falls on Asian sharemarkets.
"We started the day off quite strongly and we haven't really looked back from there,'' RBC capital markets fixed interest strategist Michael Turner said.
Mr Turner said strong demand for Australian bond futures was likely to continue during the European and US sessions overnight.
At 4.30pm AEDT, the March 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.735 (implying a yield of 3.265 per cent), up from yesterday's close of 96.665 (3.335 per cent).
The March three-year bond futures contract was at 97.310 (2.69 per cent), up from 97.240 (2.760 per cent) previously.