Asian session: The yen traded 0.2 percent from a two-month low

The yen traded 0.2 percent from a two-month low after data showed Japan’s exports fell the most since the aftermath of last year’s record earthquake, adding to pressure on the central bank to expand monetary easing. Japan’s shipments slid 10.3 percent in September from a year earlier, leaving a trade deficit of 558.6 billion yen ($7 billion), the Finance Ministry said in Tokyo today. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of analysts was for a 9.9 percent export decline. The drop was the most since May 2011, two months after a magnitude-9 quake struck Japan’s northeast, triggering a tsunami and a nuclear disaster that led to the shuttering of most of the nation’s reactors.

The Dollar Index, which IntercontinentalExchange Inc. uses to track the greenback against currencies of six U.S. trading partners, maintained a two-day advance after declines in stocks globally increased the allure of haven assets.

Demand for the euro was limited amid signs the region’s debt crisis is weighing on growth. Data tomorrow will probably show an index of consumer confidence was at minus 25.9 in October, unchanged from the previous month and the lowest since May 2009, according to economists in a Bloomberg poll.

Leaders at a European Union summit in Brussels last week committed to agreeing by year end on legislative framework for single bank supervisory mechanism, a deal that Moody’s Investors Service said is credit negative for weaker nations. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said after the event he’s not facing pressure to seek a bailout, prolonging speculation about whether the nation will tap rescue funds.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose, retreating from Friday's low.

GBP/USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose above $1.6030.

USD/JPY: during the Asian session, the pair rose to a two-month’s high.

There is a fairly limited calendar Monday, with the last of the US Presidential debates the stand out feature, although well after markets close for Monday trade.  The only scheduled eurozone data is the release of the EMU 2Q12 govt. debt numbers, due at 0900GMT.