The Australian dollar remained firm against major currencies on Thursday, with AUD/USD hovering around 0.67 near recent highs. Australia added 35,000 jobs in May, beating forecasts for 20,000, while unemployment fell to 3.9%. Although wage growth came in slightly below expectations and consumer confidence weakened as borrowing costs rose, money markets still assign a 70% chance of a 25-basis-point Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA, Australia's central bank) rate increase at its August meeting and expect the cash rate to reach 4.35% by year-end. Governor Michele Bullock said the board "will not hesitate" to raise rates further if inflation remains above the 2-3% target band. Trimmed mean inflation, the RBA's preferred measure, was 4.0% in the first quarter. The currency has also benefited from a softer US dollar, expectations that the US Federal Reserve may pause its tightening cycle, weaker-than-expected US manufacturing data and iron ore prices near $120 per tonne. Traders will watch upcoming inflation data and RBA communications, while a dovish policy shift or deterioration in global risk sentiment could reverse the Australian dollar's gains.