Forex news from the European morning session 19 Feb
- Greece aiming to conclude an agreement with Eurozone partners soon
- Greek govt says its request for 6 month bailout extension will honour financial commitments to all creditors
- Greek govt committed to immediate reforms on tax evasion and corruption
- Greece will only play ball with institutions not Troika - MNI
- Greek letter may pave the way for a reasonable compromise says EU
- ECB wants Greece to introduce capital controls
- ECB had no discussion on Greek capital controls
- Eurogroup to meet tomorrow to consider Greek loan extension proposals
- Japan's Abe says GPIF needs portfolio management that reflects economic change
- Japan's Amari says still some time before Japan can escape trade deficits
- ECB reports a net 2014 profit of EUR 989m vs 1.4bln in 2013
- Option expiries 10am NY cut 19 Feb
- Eurozone current account Dec EUR 17.8bln vs 19.9bln prev
- French CPI Jan mm -1.0% as exp
- UK CBI industrial trends orders Feb 10 vs 6 exp
- Swiss trade balance Jan CHF 3.433bln vs 1.514bln prev
- Nikkei 225 closes up +0.36% at 18,264.79
It's been a session of ups and downs as Greece continues to dominate the headlines and the contents of the Greek govt's letter to the EU being a source of much conjecture
EURUSD has been up to 1.1443 and back down to 1.1387 on all the rhetoric and rumour while EURGBP is now testing 0.7370 again having been up to 0.7410. EURJPY has been rather more sedate in a 135.40-75-back to 40 range as USDJPY posts above 119.00 again on generally USDpositive sentiment
GBPUSD has found support into 1.5430 again bouyed by better data and EURGBP selling but finding progress beyond 1.5465 a struggle after last night's post-FOMC move into 1.5480
USDCHF had an early dip below 0.9400 from 0.9425 only to bounce back with a vengance as EURCHF remains in bid-mode above 1.0700 amidst more SNB "smoothing" chatter
AUDNZD found buyers at new 30 year lows of 1.0300 and we've seen a corresponding demand in AUDUSD above 0.7750 and offers in NZDUSD down to 0.7507
USDCAD has posted 1.2498 from 1.2440 on lower oil prices and stronger USD
ECB Minutes coming up at 12.30 GMT to throw into this already heady cocktail