Asian session: The euro rose

00:30 Australia Wage Price Index, q/q Quarter IV +0.7% +0.8% +0.8%

00:30 Australia Wage Price Index, y/y Quarter IV +3.7% +3.4% +3.4%

02:30 New Zealand RBNZ Governor Graeme Wheeler Speaks February

04:30 Japan All Industry Activity Index, m/m December -0.3% +1.6% +1.8%

The euro rose for a second day before data today that economists said will show consumer confidence in the currency bloc improved. The European Commission will probably say today that its index of consumer confidence improved to minus 23.2 this month from minus 23.9 in January, according the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. That would follow data from yesterday showing investor confidence in Germany, the region’s biggest economy, jumped to a three-year high.

The yen reversed an earlier slide as investors speculated the Bank of Japan’s policy board will refrain from adding to monetary stimulus until new leadership takes over. The currency fell earlier after Japan posted a record trade deficit. Japan posted a trade deficit of 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4 billion) in January, the Ministry of Finance said in Tokyo today, the biggest shortfall on record dating back to 1947.

New Zealand’s dollar plunged after the central bank said it’s prepared to intervene to weaken its currency. In New Zealand, central bank Governor Graeme Wheeler said the monetary authority is prepared to step in to curb gains in the nation’s currency. “When the New Zealand dollar is coming under upward pressure, we want investors to know that the kiwi is not a one- way bet,” Wheeler said in a speech to manufacturers and exporters in Auckland today.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose to $1.3435.

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rebounded to $1.5450.

USD / JPY: during the Asian session the pair fell to a week's low.

German PPI and CPI data due up at 0700GMT to provide the early interest, US PPI at 1330GMT into the afternoon, with Eurozone consumer confidence at 1500GMT gaining some interest. ECB Noyer in a WSJ interview was seen countering calls for a cut in the refi rate, preferring to narrow spreads. ECB Asmussen suggested market could be cautiously optimistic on Q1 growth following a weak Q4. Fed FOMC Minutes due for release at 1900GMT.