Australian employers increased jobs in July and the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell as the nation’s resource-driven economy continued to weather a global slowdown, sending the local dollar near a 4 1/2-month high.

The number of people employed rose by 14,000 last month, the fourth gain in five months, the statistics bureau said in Sydney today. Payrolls fell by a revised 28,300 in June.

That compares with the median estimate for a 10,000 increase in July employment. 

The jobless rate fell to 5.2% from an upwardly revised 5.3%.

The Australian dollar touched US$1.0602 after the data, near the US$1.0604 reached on Aug. 7, which was the highest since March 20.

Japan’s machinery orders rebounded less than forecast in June, underscoring concerns that the world’s third-largest economy’s recovery will slow in the second half of this year.

Machinery orders, an indicator of capital spending, rose 5.6%, after slumping 14.8% in May, the biggest drop in more than a decade, the Cabinet Office said today in Tokyo. 

The median estimate of economists was for a 12% increase. 

Australian employers increased jobs in July and the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell as the nation’s resource-driven economy continued to weather a global slowdown, sending the local dollar near a 4 1/2-month high.

The number of people employed rose by 14,000 last month, the fourth gain in five months, the statistics bureau said in Sydney today. Payrolls fell by a revised 28,300 in June.

That compares with the median estimate for a 10,000 increase in July employment. 

The jobless rate fell to 5.2% from an upwardly revised 5.3%.

The Australian dollar touched US$1.0602 after the data, near the US$1.0604 reached on Aug. 7, which was the highest since March 20.

Japan’s machinery orders rebounded less than forecast in June, underscoring concerns that the world’s third-largest economy’s recovery will slow in the second half of this year.

Machinery orders, an indicator of capital spending, rose 5.6%, after slumping 14.8% in May, the biggest drop in more than a decade, the Cabinet Office said today in Tokyo. 

The median estimate of economists was for a 12% increase.