Asian session: The euro was lower against most of its 16 major counterparts

The 17-nation euro was lower against most of its 16 major counterparts with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras facing obstacles from coalition partners as lawmakers are expected to vote this week on measures required to receive aid. Samaras pledged on Nov. 4 that the raft of wage and pension cuts in the latest austerity package will be the last and that Greek society won’t tolerate any more, according to comments made to lawmakers of his New Democracy party. The first parliamentary vote in Athens may come as early as Nov. 7. Negotiations between Greece and its troika of international creditors have sought to keep the country inside the European monetary union. In Athens, coalition leaders are squabbling over the terms of the latest package, while in other European capitals politicians are debating how to ease the country’s debt burden.

The yen traded near its weakest level since April against the greenback as futures traders increased their bets the yen will decline versus the dollar to a six-month high.

Australia’s dollar strengthened after government data signaled improvement in the nation’s economy ahead of the Reserve Bank’s policy meeting tomorrow. The nation’s retail sales climbed 0.5 percent in September from the previous month, the statistics bureau said in a report today. The median economist estimate in a Bloomberg survey was for a 0.4 percent gain. The trade shortfall was A$1.46 billion ($1.51 billion) in the same period from a revised A$1.88 billion in August, according to a separate release. Forecasters projected a A$1.55 billion deficit.

In the U.S., employment and the economy are central themes before tomorrow’s election, with President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney each trying to convince voters he can best energize the economic expansion.

The winner will also have to contend with the so-called fiscal cliff of more than $600 billion of federal spending cuts and tax increases that will take effect at the start of next year unless Congress acts.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.2815.

GBP / USD: during the Asian session the pair was trading around the $ 1.6020 level.

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of Y80.40-55.

UK data is expected at 0930GMT and sees the release of the UK services PMI numbers. The Americas calendar starts at 1330GMT, with the release of Canada September Building permits. At 1500GMT, the October ISM non-manufacturing index and the October Employment Trends Index are released.