GBP/USD jumps on weaker US jobs numbers

FXStreet (London) - Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 217,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, food services and drinking places, and transportation and warehousing.

The unemployment rate held at 6.3 percent in May, following a decline of 0.4 percentage point in April. The number of unemployed persons was unchanged in May at 9.8 million. Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons declined by 1.2 percentage points and 1.9 million, respectively.

GBP/USD initially jumped to a high of USD1.6839 on the weaker-than-expected jobs numbers, and is currently trading as USD1.6837, up 0.13 percent on the session.