The data released this evening, Wednesday, August 4th, showed a divergence in the performance of economic indicators in the United States of America, as the ADP employment index in the American private sector came below market expectations, while the ISM services index rose in July better than market expectations.

The ADP Employment Index in the private sector announced that 330 thousand jobs were added in July, compared to 680 thousand in the revised June reading, and less than market expectations, which indicated that about 700 thousand jobs were added.

In the details of the index, the goods sector added about 12 thousand jobs, while the natural resources and mining sector added 3 thousand jobs, the manufacturing sector added 8 thousand jobs, and the services sector added about 318 thousand jobs.

On the other hand, economic activity in the services sector issued by the American Institute of Supply Management (ISM) recorded its highest level ever in July, with a growth of 64.1, 4 points higher compared to the June reading of 60.1 (expectations at 60.5), an increase for the fourteenth consecutive month of growth for the services sector.

In details, the new orders index rose to 63.7 compared to 62.1 in the July reading, while the service sector employment index rose to 53.8 compared to 49.3 in June.

The US dollar is trading on a high with the beginning of the US session at 92.17 levels, after testing 91.80 levels before the data was announced.

The New Zealand dollar, in turn, continues to maintain its gains, despite losing a little against the US dollar, and is trading at 0.7050 levels, up by about 40 points, after testing 0.7085 levels at the beginning of the European session.