Asian session: The yen and the dollar strengthened

Data:
01:00  Australia HIA New Home Sales, m/m     Mar +4.3%

The yen and the dollar strengthened against most major counterparts on speculation China will introduce additional tightening measures to combat inflation, boosting demand for safer assets.
The Japanese and U.S. currencies also advanced for a second day versus the euro as Asian stocks and commodity prices declined.
New Zealand’s dollar dropped to a two-week low after a government report showed the nation had the biggest net outflow of residents in more than 10 years.
China’s central bank said in a report yesterday that taming inflation is its highest priority, signaling more tightening is possible even after a manufacturing survey showed growth may be moderating in Asia’s biggest economy.

EUR/USD: the pair shown low in the field of $1.4770 then returned above a mark $1.4800.

GBP/USD: the pair shown low in the field of $1.6460 then returned above a mark $1.6500.

USD/JPY: the pair bargained within the limits of Y80.80-Y81.20.

US data starts at 1215GMT with the April ADP National Employment Report, which is followed at 1300GMT by the US Treasury quarterly refunding announcement and then at 1400GMT by the ISM non-manufacturing index, which is expected to fall to a reading of 57.0 in April after the decline in March. The weekly EIA Crude Oil Stocks data then follows at 1430GMT.