Plenty on the news and data agenda today (the known unknowns) and at a guess we'll get some unknown unknowns thrown in

Please bear with me for interrupting your thrashing of the USD, this won't take long

2100 GMT - New Zealand - ANZ Consumer Confidence Index for February

  • prior +4.2% m/m to 126.9

The January result was the first increase in 4 months after some post-election nail-biting amongst consumers ... and what a big jump it was in that month. A highlight was both the current and future conditions indexes increased, with the current index at its highest since 2007

2145 GMT - New Zealand - Building Consents (permits) for January

  • prior -9.6% m/m for this very volatile data series

I haven't seen an 'expectations' survey but the odd bank note I have seen indicates analysts are looking for a rebound this month-on-month. On the flip side, residential consents seem to have peaked and capacity constraints are a negative for the sector. Monthly volatility aside the y/y picture is still showing gradual growth, there is ongoing demand for new building in NZ

2330 GMT from Japan (note that time, not the more regular 2350 GMT, 20 minutes earleir)

Jobs data:

  • Jobless Rate for January, expected is 2.8%, prior was 2.8% (yes, very low unemployment and very low inflation ... go figure)
  • Job-To-Applicant Ratio for January, expected is 1.60, prior was 1.59

And Tokyo inflation data

  • Tokyo CPI y/y for February, expected is 1.4%, prior was 1.3%
  • Tokyo CPI excluding Fresh Food y/y for February, expected is 0.8%, prior was 0.7%
  • Tokyo CPI excluding Food, Energy y/y for February, expected is 0.5%, prior was 0.4%

I'll have more on the employment and inflation data (previews) separately

2350 GMT - Japan - monetary base data for February

0000 GMT - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney to speak .... that's what I have anyway but I'm gonna say "I don't think so". Its an event in London ... but the Gov. scheduled for midnight??? What is this, a rave party? Maybe the text of his speech is to be released, but I reckon no way is he live and in person at that time. Anyway, I'll keep eyes and ears open and a few glow sticks handy just in case.

0110 GMT - Bank of Japan JGB buying operation scheduled

  • 1-3, 3-5, 5-10 years

Keep alert for this, at the operation this week the bank (tiny) tapered and sent the yen on a little spike: