THE Australian dollar closed little changed today, with traders on the sidelines ahead of key US employment data.
At 5pm (AEST) today, the local unit was trading at US90.80c, up from yesterday's close of US90.72c.
Since 7am (AEST), the local currency traded between US91.16c and US90.67c, according to IRESS data.
Commonwealth Bank currency strategist Joseph Capurso said the local unit had a quiet trading day after a volatile week.
"In terms of the week that was, it was pretty volatile and we're going to have a pretty bumpy ride over the next seven or eight days," he said. "It's been a pretty boring day."
National accounts data during the week showed the domestic economy grew by an unexpectedly rapid 3.3 per cent for the year to June.
Mr Capurso said the data lead him to expect a bullish statement from the Reserve Bank of Australia following its monthly board meeting and subsequent interest rate decision next Tuesday.
He said market expectations were for the RBA to hold the cash rate steady at 4.5 per cent.
None of the 15 economists surveyed by AAP on today expected a rate rise.
Market attention on Friday was on key US jobs data during the offshore session, Mr Capurso said.
The US Department of Labour is expected to publish its much anticipated non-farm payrolls data for August and it is not expected to paint a rosy picture about the US employment situation.
The jobless rate is forecast to rise marginally to 9.6 per cent from 9.5 per cent the previous month, and 105,000 jobs are expected to have been lost in August.
Mr Capurso said he expected the private sector employment component of the US series to have the most effect on markets.
"Everyone is waiting for the big one tonight," he said. "The risks are the private sector will be weaker than expected.
"It suggests ... a bigger negative than has been factored in."
Meanwhile, the Australian share market ended the week with a third successive gain.
At 4.15pm (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 8.5 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 4,541.2 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 14.6 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 4,577.6 points.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the September share price index futures contract was five points higher at 4,534 on volume of 25,041 contracts.
RBS Morgans director of equities Bill Chatterton said the market performed reasonably well this week on the back of strong GDP domestic figures and good profit season reports.
He said an unresolved federal election has left investors with a sense of caution.
"The fact that we haven't got a solution in the federal election has been an issue - there's no question about that - from a local perspective and from an international perspective," Mr Chatterton said.
All major banks finished today's trading in negative territory.
ANZ fell 14 cents to $23.29, Commonwealth Bank lost 35 cents to $51.57, National Australia Bank dropped one cent to $24.10 and Westpac finished 15 cents lower at $22.50.
