LONDON, March 6 Reuters The U.S. dollar eased on Monday as investors awaited testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ahead of the February jobs report at the end of the week that will likely influence how much more the U.S. central bank will raise interest rates.

The dollar index , which measures the performance of the U.S. currency against six others, was last down 0.1 at 104.53. The index last week clocked a weekly loss for the first time since January.

After delivering jumbo hikes last year, the Fed has raised interest rates by 25 basis points at its last two meetings, but a slew of resilient economic data has stoked market fears the central bank might return to its aggressive path.

Futures imply a 72 chance the Fed will raise interest rates by 25 basis points at its meeting on March 22.

The spotlight will be firmly on the February jobs report scheduled for Friday and Powell39;s testimony to Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Of all this weeks events, it will be payrolls that will be the most important one, Rabobank currency strategist Jane Foley said.

Are we going to have a continuation of the February outlook of 39;higher for longer39; or are the markets going to come back to 39;January payrolls is going to be a bit of an outlier and maybe the economy is slowing39;, she said.

In early February, the January monthly employment report showed blisteringly fast job growth and sustained wage inflation, which was enough together with strong reads of…