Asian session: The dollar dropped

22:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, m/m March -0.3% -1.3%

22:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, y/y March -0.1% -0.4%

23:50 Japan Tertiary Industry Index February -1.5% +0.8% 1.1%

The dollar dropped against most of its major peers ahead of data forecast to show U.S. retail sales stalled in March, adding to signs the Federal Reserve will need to maintain stimulus measures. The greenback may extend declines against the euro with economists surveyed by Bloomberg News forecasting a Commerce Department report will show retail sales were unchanged last month after a 1.1 percent increase in February.

Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will speak at the Resilience and Rebuilding for Low-Income Communities Conference today. He will speak from prepared remarks and won’t take questions.

The U.S. currency is set for a weekly decline against 15 of its 16 most-traded counterparts as Pacific Investment Management Co., the world’s biggest bond fund manager, said the dollar would lose value over the long term.

The yen halted a decline that brought it within 0.1 percent of 100 per dollar before a Group of 20 meeting next week, where Japan could face criticism over currency weakness.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair was trading around $ 1.3115.

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose $ 1.5410.

USD / JPY: during the Asian session the pair fell Y99.35.