The dollar was weaker and European stocks firmer today before US jobs data that should guide investors on the state of the world's largest economy and prospects for consumer spending there.
Asian shares were generally lower with Japanese stocks falling relatively sharply on profit taking from recent gains.
The focus across financial markets is the release of US non-farm payroll data for March. These figures are always a key indicator, but investors are awaiting them even more than usual because of the US economy's weakness.
Late last week, economists polled by Reuters offered a median forecast that 60,000 jobs were shed in March, marking a third month in a row that employment has decreased. There have been mixed signals since then, however.
Investors will be particularly keen this month to see what impact the slowing US economy is having on consumers through jobs prospects. Consumer spending has held up relatively well so far during the economic slowdown.
Expectations of US interest rate cuts have also cooled recently, so a worse-than-expected figure could reignite the view that the US Federal Reserve will have to take more action to ease monetary policy.