Forex: Monday’s review

Yesterday the euro pared gains after approaching a two-month high against the dollar. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos won approval from parliament for austerity measures needed to receive a second aid package, which euro-area finance ministers must decide whether to release when they meet Feb. 15. The dollar fell against most of its major counterparts, including the New Zealand dollar and South Africa’s rand, as stocks and commodities rose before reports forecast to show strong U.S. economic growth.

The yen fell against most of its major peers as Japan’s economy shrank at an annualized 2.3 percent pace in the fourth quarter amid slumping exports that undermined a recovery from last year’s record earthquake. The report underscores pressure on Bank of Japan officials meeting to consider more monetary easing as gains in the yen worsen losses for exporting companies such as Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi reiterated at a parliamentary budget committee session in Tokyo that he’ll act on excessive and speculative moves in the currency. Japan spent 14.3 trillion yen ($185 billion) in intervention operations last year to stem gains in the currency as it rose to postwar records against the dollar, hurting the nation’s exporters.

EUR/USD: yesterday the pair fell below $1.3200.

GBP/USD: yesterday the pair decreased.

USD/JPY: yesterday the pair fell.

A heavy calendar kicks off Tuesday at 0630GMT, when BOJ Governor addresses the press and outlines the decision to extend the central bank's asset purchase program. UK data is released at 0930GMT, with the release of the UK consumer price data. US calendar, kicking off at 1245GMT with the ICSC-Goldman Weekly Mall Sales numbers. At 1330GMT, the monthly retail sales report, Producer Price Index annual revisions and the Import Price Index data all hit traders screens. Also at 1330GMT, Canadian New motor vehicle sales data for December is released. Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Plosser speaks to the University of Delaware Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneuship on the economic outlook, in Newark, Delaware at 1345GMT.