There has been a marked pick up in general risk aversion as the situation with Japan’s nuclear reactors deteriorates further. European stocks are set to open sharply lower, DAX around -2.5% and FTSE around -2.7%, according to financial bookmakers.

Against this backdrop EUR/USD sits down at 1.3928 from a North American close Monday around 1.3985, having been as low as 1.3891 at one stage.

Euro zone data due today:

06:30 GMT: French CPI for February expected +0.5% m/m, +1.7% y/y

10:00 GMT: Euro zone employment Q4

10:00 GMT: German ZEW survey for March; economic sentiment expected 16.0 from previous 15.7.