FOREX-Dollar flat after US jobs data yen falls after BOJ meeting

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* Biggest U.S. jobs gain in 1-1/2 years offsets meager wagegrowth

* Bank of Japan pushes back on notion of reduced stimulus

* Yen on back foot as Trump, North Korea meeting easesworries

* Euro remains pressured in the wake of Draghi's cautiousview (New throughout, updates prices and market activity)

By Richard Leong

NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - The dollar was little changedagainst a basket of currencies on Friday as monthly U.S. jobgrowth data was its strongest in over 1-1/2 years while wagegains slowed more than expected, supporting the view the FederalReserve would not quicken its pace on raising interest rates.

The yen fell broadly after the Bank of Japan stuck to itsdovish policy stance. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda soundedoptimistic on growth, yet stressed there would be no plan tochange monetary policy before reaching a 2 percent inflationtarget. L4N1QR2HY

The U.S. Labor Department said nonfarm payrolls grew by313,000 in February, the largest monthly increase since July2016, but average hourly earnings rose only 0.1 percent, slowerthan the 0.3 percent increase in January and less than the 0.2percent analysts had forecast. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nLNS9EEE8L

Traders bet a tightening labor market would buttress thecase for the Fed to raise key borrowing costs later this monthand possibly two more times later this year, but the pullback inwage gains should mitigate against four rate hikes in 2018.

"While this is good news for the U.S. economy, this doesn'tchange anything with the Fed. The path of three rate hikes staysas our base case," said Chuck Tomes, senior trader at ManulifeAsset Management in Boston.

The payrolls report may bolster the greenback in the shortterm, but trade tensions from U.S. President Donald Trump'ssteel and aluminum tariffs should be a longer-term drag, asshould faster growth outside the United States, Tomes said. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1QQ1M8

The index that tracks the dollar against six majorcurrencies .DXY fell 0.038 point or 0.04 percent, to 90.141.

The euro EUR= was down 0.03 percent, at $1.2306.

The single currency also fell on Thursday as EuropeanCentral Bank President Mario Draghi said regional inflationremained subdued and rising protectionism was a risk. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N1QP5OP

YEN SINKS

The dollar advanced to a one-week peak against the yen asthe BOJ stuck to its negative rate policy on Friday and BOJchief Kuroda, like Draghi, warned about the risk of risingprotectionism and inflation staying sluggish. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1QR1HH

The yen also succumbed to traders scaling back safe-havenholdings of the Japanese currency on news Trump was prepared tomeet with North Korea'sKim Jong Un, a potential breakthrough innuclear tensions with Pyongyang. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N1QQ239

The dollar JPY= was last up 0.57 percent, at 106.81 yen,while the euro was up 0.54 percent, at 131.46 yen.========================================================

Currency bid prices at 3:15PM (2015 GMT) Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid

Previous Change

Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.2306$1.2310 -0.03% +2.58% +1.2334 +1.2274 Dollar/Yen JPY= 106.8000 106.2000 +0.56% -5.21% +107.0400 +106.1800 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 131.45 130.76 +0.53% -2.76% +131.8900 +130.7100 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9512 0.9510 +0.02% -2.37% +0.9533 +0.9489 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.3841 1.3810 +0.22% +2.43% +1.3888 +1.3789 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.2830 1.2894 -0.50% +2.01% +1.2908 +1.2815 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7845 0.7789 +0.72% +0.56% +0.7853 +0.7778 ar Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1707 1.1708 -0.01% +0.15% +1.1727 +1.1679 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8889 0.8913 -0.27% +0.07% +0.8926 +0.8876 NZ Dollar/Dolar NZD= 0.7284 0.7262 +0.30% +2.79% +0.7297 +0.7251 Dollar/Norway NOK= 7.7724 7.8383 -0.84% -5.30% +7.8472 +7.7661 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.5666 9.6507 -0.87% -2.86% +9.6641 +9.5661 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.2364 8.2553 -0.42% +0.42% +8.2762 +8.2274 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.1360 10.1789 -0.42% +3.02% +10.1839 +10.1390

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U.S. dollar valuations   http://reut.rs/2DefUhI
World FX rates in 2018   http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
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(Additional reporting by Saikat Chatterjee in London; editingby Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio) ((richard.leong@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 6313; ReutersMessaging: richard.leong.thomsonreuters.com@thomsonreuters.net;Twitter @RichardLeong2))

Referenced Symbols:EFX,

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