london april 6 reuters  the pound hovered just below its highest level in 10 months on thursday as investor focus turned to fridays us jobs numbers sterling was last flat at 1246 having touched its highest level since june  1253  on tuesday markets were subdued across the board on thursday ahead of the release of the us nonfarm payrolls employment data on friday it will be a key factor in the federal reserves next interest rate decision and could cause volatility in markets there is a semblance of calm about todays trading session in the absence of any major data said simon harvey head of fx analysis at monex europe price action instead is likely to be determined by expectations for tomorrows payrolls print the us jobs market has remained resolutely strong keeping the pressure on the fed to raise interest rates to tackle inflation yet analysts expect the us to have added 215000 jobs in march a slowdown from februarys 265000 figure the pound was also little changed against the euro  with a euro changing hands for 8751 pence sterling has risen dramatically after plunging to a record low of 1033 in september in the wake of thenprime minister liz trusss disastrous budget a strongerthanexpected economy aided by falling energy prices has helped the pound as has a recent drop in the dollar as investors worry about the collapse of silicon valley bank and signature bank and the implications for the us economy with british inflation unexpectedly jumping to 104 in february investors broadly think the bank of england will raise interest rates further theyre less sure about the fed expectations of higher interest rates have helped the pound by making sterlingdenominated fixed income investments in britain look relatively more attractive in a thin calendar data from halifax showed that british house prices rose for a third month in a row in march however separate figures showed that housebuilding in britain fell at the sharpest pace since may 2020 last month the dollar index which tracks the currency against six peers was last up 007 at 10194 it stood at a threemonth high of 10588 in early march