Foreign exchange market. Asian session

(Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual)

04:30 Japan All Industry Activity Index, m/m February 1.9% -0.9% 0.1%

The aussie started this morning at $0.7778, toward the upper end of the $0.7711 to $0.7791 range seen yesterday, demand in aussie-kiwi following dovish comments from RBNZ's McDermott, higher CRB index and weaker than expected US data all combining to push the aussie a little higher.

Cable closed in NY Thursday at $1.5057 after rate had been pushed higher, extending its recovery off UK retail sales data react lows of $1.4960, on general dollar sell off prompted by the release of weaker than forecast US home sales data which saw rate trade to a high of $1.5070 during the NY afternoon.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $1.0785

GBP / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.5025

USD / JPY: during the Asian session the pair traded in the range Y119.40-60

A light UK data calendar for Friday with attention on Germany Ifo, as well as Greece developments. Into the afternoon focus will be on US durable goods and UST yield effects. Traders noting only a minor General Election effect felt in trade, but expect pressure on sterling to emerge closer to May7.