The Aussie drifted higher on Thursday ahead of key jobs data with expectations for a gain in employment, but a higher unemployment rate

In Australia, employment change figures for September are expected to show a gain of 15,000 jobs under a participation rate of 64.8%, up a tad from 64.7%, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%, up from 5.6% previously.

Investors also looked ahead to the final of three U.S. presidential debates that may throw up some insights on economic policy plans by contenders Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was last quoted at 97.87.