• S.Korea fx authorities spotted buying dollars to curb won’s strength – traders
  • SKorea’s FinMin official: Worrried fx market leaning excessively one way. To take appropriate measures if necessary
  • Shanghai share index ends up 0.5%
  • ECB’s Nowotny; Does not think risk taking major problem in euro area, but sees signs in other regions. In U.S. there is some discussion about excessive risk taking, I see some justification
  • SNB’s Hildebrand: SNB to continue to prevent any excessive appreciation of franc/euro. Has no exchange rate target but will monitor forex market developments very closely
  • French November industry output +1.1% m/m, stronger than median forecast +0.5%
  • Swiss November retail sales +0.6% y/y

The weekend release of impressive December Chinese trade data has helped lift risk sentiment, underminning the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen. Oil is up over a buck while European stocks have followed their Asian conterparts and performed well this morning.

EUR/USD is up at 1.4535 from early 1.4515 having been as high as 1.4546. Various Asian sovereigns have been active today on both sides of the ball. ACB buying seen below 1.4500 as well as selling above 1.4520. Talk of barrier option interest at 1.4550, which has so far been sucessfully protected.

Cable is up at 1.6175 from early 1.6095, having been as high as 1.6193. Cable rallied early but ran into Asian sovereign selling in the 1.6135/55 area initially. The Reserve Bank of India (who was recently seen buying in low 1.59’s on the 7th) and Bank of Korea were two names mentioned.

Eventually however a UK clearer stepped in and bought aggressively overcoming the ACB interest and triggering stops through 1.6160. We’ve been as high as 1.6193 where the pairing ran into decent sell interest. Model funds seen buying throughout the morning.

USD/JPY marginally firmer, up at 92.35 from early 92.20. BIS bought around 92.25 lending support.

EUR/CHF little firmer after SNB’s Hildebrand let the market know that the bank was still intent on preventing any excessive swissy strength. Cross is up at 1.4770 from early 1.4750, but off session high 1.4793 posted just after Hildebrand comments hit the wires. Market seems to want more than just verbal intervention before it turns tail.

AUD/USD up marginally at .9320 from early .9305.