Australia’s unemployment rate fell from a 10-month high to 5.2 per cent in September, as employers hired more staff than expected. Total employment rose 20,400 to 11.451 million in the month, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today. Economists had forecast a 10,000 rise in employment with the jobless rate remaining at 5.3 per cent for a second straight month. The dollar soared on the news, jumping from $US1.015 before the data was released to $US1.0236 before settling at $US1.02 cents, as prospects for an official interest rate cut sink. Surprise jump in jobs Chris Zappone October ... (full story)