LONDON, April 6 Reuters The pound hovered just below its highest level in 10 months on Thursday as investor focus turned to Friday39;s U.S. jobs numbers.

Sterling was last flat at 1.246, having touched its highest level since June 1.253 on Tuesday.

Markets were subdued across the board on Thursday ahead of the release of the U.S. nonfarm payrolls employment data on Friday.

It will be a key factor in the Federal Reserve39;s next interest rate decision and could cause volatility in markets.

There is a semblance of calm about today39;s 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 tomorrow39;s payrolls print.

The U.S. jobs market has remained resolutely strong, keeping the pressure on the Fed to raise interest rates to tackle inflation. Yet analysts expect the U.S. to have added 239,000 jobs in March, a slowdown from February39;s 311,00 figure.

The pound was also little changed against the euro , with a euro changing hands for 87.51 pence.

Sterling has risen dramatically after plunging to a record low of 1.033 in September in the wake of thenPrime Minister Liz Truss39;s 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 U.S. economy.

With…