Forex news for Asia-Pac trading:
- Australia - Construction Work Done Q3: -3.6% q/q (expected -2.0%)
- American Petroleum Institute (API) crude oil inventories rise more than expected
- Japan final leading index revised slightly higher
- BOJ Shirai: Must be mindful of how rising rates hurt households
- BOJ's Shirai speech - link to full text
- Oil - China to allow independent refineries to export refined fuel next year
- Westpac-MNI China November Consumer Sentiment 113.1 (109.7 prior)
- Moody's expects 0.5%-1.5% GDP growth in Japan in 2016
- People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets yuan reference rate at 6.3877
- Australian press: "Aussie dollar climbs as RBA chief cools on rate cut"
- BOJ Minutes: Sees overseas economies likely to grow moderately
- Japan data - PPI Services for October: +0.5% y/y (expected +0.5%)
- Magnitude 7.1 quake hits eastern Peru, close to Brazilian border - USGS
- BoE's Broadbent: Lack of credit growth in UK is extremely striking
- BoC dep gov Patterson: Growth in Canada is picking up above potential
- ASX finishes down 0.4%
- Gold up $3 to $1078
- Shanghai Comp +0.42%
- NZD leads, CHF lags
Oil was lower after API data shows larger than expected inventory build. It hit $42.64 but has crawled back. Watch for declines if/when the government data matches the build.
AUD was higher - RBA Governor Stevens spoke overnight, further diminishing any near term expectations of a rate cut. Local buyers emerged as Australian markets opened. Watch out for a speech from Debelle later.
Australia Q3 'construction work done' data an input into next week's GDP report, but given the nearly overwhelming probability of no action from the RBA in December (and then a long wait for the next meeting in February) there was a much reduced focus on this data today. That may prove to be a mistake but AUD/USD is a tough one to stop at the moment.
BoE Broadbent on the UK press - little GBP response ... we await the Autumn Statement and spending review from Chancellor Osborne
CAD was little changed at fist despite Patterson's speech but she struck an optimistic tone and that may weigh more on USD/CAD in the day ahead, especially if USD weakness continues.
Yen found some strength after Shirai's comments - she indicates again BOJ does not have further action on the horizon in the near term. USD/JPY hit 122.25 but the dollar found some bids there and bounced to 122.45 to leave it down just 8 pips on the session.
EUR/USD tracked higher early and hit 1.0677 -- the highest this week. It backed off to 1.0656 late. The European calendar is fairly light.
