- Extremely quiet session in Asia with most pairings trading in 35/40 pip ranges
- Regional stock markets lose between 1.5%/2%
- Gold consolidates overnight losses around $1040/oz
USD/JPY opened at its session high around 92.30 but was unable to work through a series of offers just above there and traders eventually lost interest. Range 92.01/32.
Some rumours in early trade that investment trust maturities would see some big selling of JPY crosses and this saw pairs like GBP/JPY sell off quickly from 150.70 to 150.10 but this turned out to be more rumour mongering. All pairs recovered these early losses quickly but momentum has been lacking completely. Ranges; GBP/JPY 150.10/70, EUR/JPY 137.80/138.20.
Sterling looked again like the currency most likely to move but this was a also a false hope. Technical support is underpinning EUR/GBP at .9080/95. Cable offers are noted at 1.6425/45 level but there are also stops just above 1.6400. Stops also noted below 1.6225. Ranges: cable 1.6287/1.6351, EUR/GBP .9095/.9125.
EUR/USD remains well supported by Sovereign buyers with 1.4815/25 the next layer of buying on the downside. Range 1.4850/90.
AUD/USD also sees good buying interest at .9110/20 and again at .9070. My information is that the big stops are below.9050 and not .9100. Range .9147/92.
Markets: Nikkei -1.3%, HK -1.5%, Kospi -1.6%. Gold and oil steady at $1043/oz and $79/bbl respectively.
