* Dollar tumbles on weaker than expected jobs growth
* Japanese yen rallies sharply, traders on intervention
watch
* Traders cut bets on September rate hike
(Updated in New York morning time)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK/LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - The dollar tumbled on
Thursday after the closely watched employment report for June
showed that employers added fewer jobs than economists had
expected last month, while the Japanese yen gained sharply as
traders braced for possible intervention from Japanese
authorities.
Employers added 57,000 jobs, below economists expectations
for 110,000 job gains. Unemployment slipped to 4.2%, from 4.3%.
Fed funds futures traders are now pricing in 49% odds of a
Federal Reserve rate hike by September, down from 67% before the
data.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback
against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro,
was last down 0.71% at 100.68, with the euro up 0.68% at
$1.1453.
Against the Japanese yen, the dollar weakened 1.09%
to 160.78.