The USD is marginally easier compared to where Europe left off Wednesday, with EUR/USD up at 1.2930 while cable has advanced to 1.4390. We haven’t got too much in the way of important European economic data today. At 9:00 GMT we have the release of the latest ECB monthly report for February, and then at 10:00 GMT we have euro-zone industrial production for December. Median forecasts are for a -2.5% month on month fall and a -9.5% year on year contraction.
Elsewhere, at 8:00 GMT ECB Governing Council member Lorenzo-Bin Smaghi is to speak on “Financial Crisis: Where does Europe Stand?” and then at midday German Finance Minister Steinbrueck speaks to parliament,.
