Forex news for Asia trading Friday 20 February 2015
Japan;
- Bank of Japan should relax inflation target, says ex-official
- Masahiro Kawai - Not necessary for BOJ to increase easing program at present
- Japan Markit/JMMA Manufacturing PMI for February: 51.5 (vs. expected 52.5)
- Could high frequency traders turn the Baltic Dry index around?
- BOJ Governor Kuroda: very important to establish sustainable fiscal structure
- Japan economy minister Amari comments on high price of stocks
- Japan may not submit GPIF bill to current diet session: NHK
- JP Morgan on NZ - expect real cash rate to remain high, but moderate somewhat over 2015-16
- Comments from Bank of England's McCafferty in Friday's newspaper
- WSJ: China ate up US Treasury debt maturing in more than a year at fastest rate on record
- German Finance Ministry: German economic expansion helped by lower euro
- Saudis made 'fundamental mistake' on U.S. shale: IHS Adviser
- Canada PM Harper: Says Canada to reduce taxes for LNG plants
- UK Telegraph: Varoufakis says Greece to reject more austerity
- Fed's Bullard: Worried markets could view Fed as falling behind the curve on hikes
- Developing: Differing reports on EU response to Greece
- S&P's Gill: Expects Greece deal, doesn't see Greek contagion
- New Zealand government financial statements - deficit narrows
The closure of many Asian centres today for the Chinese / Lunar New Year holiday took a toll on activity today. That, along with the market awaiting the next round of headline risk out of Europe/Greece (which tends to take a break during the European evening/night), kept ranges across the board very subdued.
There was little movement, and what there was has resulted in rates being barely changed from where I walked in this morning.
AUD/USD traded as high as the around the overnight high at just above 0.7810 and tracked sideways since then.
USD/JPY a little weaker overall on the session, but not by much at all (as of writing).
EUR/USD buyers lurking under 1.1360 - said to be sovereign demand around that area.
Perhaps Europe and the US can fire up more activity ahead of the weekend.
Have a great weekend all.
