• EU economic sentiment falls to 103.2 in July from 105.4 in June
  • ECB: 20% of banks reported decline in risk weighted assets over past 6 months, expect further decline in next 6 months due to Basel 111
  • UK CBI July retail sales balance -5 vs -2 in June (cons zero), lowest since June 2010
  • ECB’s Mersch: Myths of premature collapse of euro not based on facts and figures
  • Spain June real workday-adjusted retail sales fall 7%y/y
  • Spain’s Econ Min: Sees no risk of default by autonomous regions
  • Portugal July economic climate indicator -2.3 vs -2.2 in June
  • Swedish unemployment 8.8% in June vs 8.6% median
  • Swedish June retail sales +3.1% m/m, +3.4% y/y
  • Greek Fin Min: Wants bond swap project to be completed as soon as possible. IMF will support Greece as long as country fulfills its obligations
  • German July seas adj jobless total-11,000 to 2.957 mln

A mixed morning for the EUR/USD which traded a tight 1.4330-4375 range until the rumour mill started whirring.

Spurious talk of ECB buying peripheral bonds sparked a run up through stops at 1.4380 to 1.4000 which was duly reversed as Italian spreads widened following a mixed auction.

Eurozone economic sentiment came in weak, with another rumour that Italian Fin Min Tremonti had resigned pouring more cold water on the euro, sending it crashing through stops at 1.4320 and 1.4300 on model sales to lows of 1.4269. Fibonacci support around the lows held with a bounce to 1.4300.

Cable largely ignored the disappointing CBI sales data, as EUR/GBP took the strain of the EUR/USD fall but later eased back to 1.6295 from early session highs of 1.6365.

EUR/GBP fell back sharply from 0.8803 to 0.8756

AUD/USD remained firm for most of the morning on continuing EUR/AUD sales from hedge funds, hitting highs of 1.1076, before later easing back to 1.1024. Offers are left at 1.1080 up to a 1.1100 barrier. Bids are sitting at 1.0970/80.

USD/CHF hit new record lows of 0.7990( according to Reuters), where a barrier supposedly resided, despite protection from a major NY bank. EUR/CHF hit lows of 1.4223 on the move.

USD/JPY continued to taunt intervention falling 77.63 from 77.84, with the EUR/JPY chopped down to 110.98 from 111.78. USD/ JPY stops are seen down through barriers at 77.50 and 77.00.

Gold shed about $5 down to $1612, and WTI fell back to 96.90 from early highs of 97.80