Swiss franc sees downside correction as deflation deepens

Better than expected data had strengthened the Swiss franc across the board on Thursday but Friday's consumer price data has pushed it off the highs.

Swiss consumer prices fell 1.1% from a year earlier in April, deeper than the 0.9% fall in March which analysts had been expecting to repeat. Month-on-month, the index fell 0.2% compared to previous month's 0.3% increase and as analysts had been expecting a growth of 0.1%.

USD/CHF rose to 0.9255 from the previous close of 0.9216, further off Thursday's low of 0.9071 , which was its lowest since 29 January.

Sterling strengthened nearly 2% against the Swiss franc on Friday, pushing further off the three-month low hit in the previous session. GBP/CHF rose to 1.4332 from Thursday's close of 1.4051 and compared to the weekly low of 1.3817.

It was pound's broad strength after the UK election outcome that helped its sharp move higher against the Swiss unit.

Against the yen, the franc slipped to 129.19 from the previous close of 129.66 and off Thursday's multi-month high of 131.43.

All eyes are now on the US non-farm payroll data scheduled for the day. The data will be out at 12:30 GMT.

Market expectations are for a drop in the unemployment rate to 5.4% for April from 5.5% in the previous month. The non-farm payroll addition is forecast to have increased to 224,00 from 126,000.