Safe-Haven Yen, Dollar Firm with Markets on Edge Before US Payrolls Test

SAFE HAVEN - TOKYO. The safe-haven Japanese yen and U.S. dollar remained firm on Wednesday while riskier currencies like sterling and the Aussie dollar languished as investors ran for safety following the worst sell-off in almost a month on Wall Street.

The catalyst was ostensibly some soft U.S. manufacturing data, which fanned worries about a hard landing for the economy, as traders braced for crucial monthly payrolls data on Friday.