Asian session: The Dollar held losses from last week

The Dollar held losses from last week before U.S. data forecast to show consumer confidence rose to the most since July and regional manufacturing gauges increased, reducing demand for haven assets.

The Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against the currencies of six major U.S. trading partners, slid 0.1 percent to 79.853 as of 1:43 p.m. in Tokyo, having lost 0.2 percent last week.

Australia’s currency ended a five-day rally as Asian stocks slid.

Demand for the euro damped before Italy sells bills and bonds this week amid concern Europe’s debt crisis will drive up borrowing costs for the region’s larger economies. Italy is scheduled to sell 9 billion euros ($11.8 billion) of 179-day bills and as much as 2.5 billion euros of zero-coupon 2013 bonds tomorrow. The nation will auction debt due in 2014, 2018, 2021 and 2022 the following day.

Ten-year bond yields in Italy advanced six basis points to 6.98 percent on Dec. 23, approaching the 7 percent level that spurred Greece, Ireland and Portugal to seek bailouts.

EUR/USD: on Asian session the pair gain.

GBP/USD: on Asian session the pair gain.

USD/JPY: on Asian session the pair fell.

Tuesday there will begin at 07:00 GMT Switzerland the publication of the Consumption Indicator from UBS for November. At 14:00 GMT in the USA there will be S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for October. At 15:00 GMT the USA will be published with the indicator of consumer confidence for December (growth up to 58.9 against 56.0 the last month is expected). In end of day we are expected with the block of statistics from Japan.