SYDNEY (AFX) - The Australian dollar was higher in late afternoon on the US jobless claims data and buying of Australian bonds, dealers said. The unit traded between a high of 0.5020 usd and a low of 0.4987 during the day. IBJ Australia Bank foreign exchange trader Scott Lewis said the Australian dollar benefited from a sharp rise in US jobless claims data overnight and buying of Australian bonds from Japan. He said some selling orders are being placed at 0.5020-0.5030 usd which could prove to be resistence level for the unit while support for the next 48 hours would be at 0.4980.