Svmuu: U.S. employment data came in stronger than expected, boosting the dollar, while progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled. The U.S. dollar index is on track for its biggest gain since April 8 on Friday; it has risen 0.6% this week, heading for its largest weekly gain in three months. While other parts of the world struggle with high energy prices due to the Middle East conflict, U.S. employment growth in May exceeded market expectations, with the unemployment rate remaining stable. The employment data has strengthened market expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. "This is a favorable environment for a stronger dollar," said Noah Buffam, a strategist at Citi Capital Markets. "The data shows that American exceptionalism has passed the test, with the economy rebounding even as inflation remains above target." (Jin Shi)