Forex news for Asia trading Friday 3 November 2017

The Australian dollar was a big loser today (relatively speaking), dropping after a very poor showing (again) on retail sales data. The m/m change for September came in well below expected and followed a similarly dire result in August (well, August was worse).

For detail:

AUD/USD had been quiet mainly just above 0.7710 but was marked down to lows circa 0.7782 before stabilising a little around 0.7685 (as I update). NZD/USD, meanwhile, had a better session, it's a few points up on earlier levels with little in the way of news nor data of impact.

Elsewhere movement was more subdued. It was a pre-NFP day which is typically (though not always) a day of waiting for Asia. In addition it was a Japanese holiday (Culture Day).

USD/JPY drifted around 20 points lower but is now trading circa 114.00 - again little in the way of news nor data. EUR/USD had a similarly quiet session, a small range: ditto for USD/CHF and even Cable (slightly to the better following its big overnight fall). USD/CAD is relatively stable also.

In addition to the NFP from the US there is datae for the trade balance, ISM and factory orders - though it's the nonfarm payroll that is the big focus.