FOREX-Dollar holds ground before jobs data, Aussie firms

* Dollar holds ground before US non-farm payrolls at 1330 GMT

* Aussie firm after upbeat RBA policy statement

By Shinichi Saoshiro

TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The dollar sat tight as investors held off taking new positions before a U.S. jobs report likely to signal the strength of economic recovery, while the Australian dollar firmed after its central bank foresaw gradual rate rises.

A Reuters poll showed median forecasts are for 175,000 U.S. jobs being shed in October, slower than the 263,000 lost in September, with the jobless rate rising to 9.9 percent. ECONUS

If the numbers disappoint, investors are likely to turn to the dollar and the yen JPY=, while a strong report could see high-yielding currencies gain, although analysts are doubtful investor risk appetite will be quite as bullish as it had been earlier this year.

"If the number is as expected, it may continue to favour risk-on trades," said Koji Fukaya, a senior currency strategist at Deutsche Securities in Tokyo.

"But the Fed has already shown commitment to an easy policy for an extended period while upgrading its economic outlook, so a jobs number in line with expectations will only reaffirm its view."

An index that measures the dollar against six other major currencies was unchanged from late U.S. trade at 75.700 =USD, while the euro, the biggest component of that basket, was also steady at $1.4875 EUR=.