Asian session: The yen fell versus all but one of its 16 major peers

00:00 Australia Bank holiday

00:00 New Zealand Bank holiday

The yen fell versus all but one of its 16 major peers on speculation Bank of Japan  officials will add to stimulus measures at a policy meeting this week. All 14 economists in a Bloomberg News survey predict additional easing when Japan’s central bank releases new inflation forecasts on April 27. Most expect an increase in asset purchases ranging from 5 trillion yen ($61.4 billion) to 10 trillion yen.  The yen slid for a second day against the euro as Asian shares extended a global stocks rally, damping demand for haven assets.

The greenback held a drop from yesterday versus the 17- nation euro before the Federal Reserve concludes a two-day gathering today. The Federal Open Market Committee plans to release its policy statement later today. It will publish its forecasts for interest rates, growth, inflation and unemployment. Orders placed with U.S. factories for durable goods probably fell 1.7 percent in March after rising a revised 2.4 percent the previous month, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg poll. The Commerce Department will release the data today.

Europe’s shared currency held gains versus the dollar and yen before a Dutch proposal on austerity measures is sent to parliament today for debate this week. Prime Minister Mark Rutte told lawmakers yesterday the need to adopt reforms “hasn’t diminished” after Geert Wilders’s Freedom Party pulled out of budget talks. Rutte spoke one day after he tendered his Cabinet’s resignation to Queen Beatrix. He said new elections may be “possible” on Sept. 12.

Australia’s dollar gained versus the Japanese currency after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease in six years increased prospects demand for Australian beef will rise.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair holds in a range $1.3190-$1.3205.

GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair holds in a range $1.6135-$1.6150.

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair gain to Y81.50.

European events start at 0700GMT when ECB President Mario Draghi is due to give an introductory statement before the European Parliament's Committee of Economic and Monetary Affairs, in Brussels. At 0800GMT, the ECB is due to publish the Eurozone Bank Lending Survey. UK data at 0830GMT includes the latest Index of Services as well as  the preliminary estimate of Q1 GDP data. At 1000GMT, the CBI Quarterly Industrial Trends Survey is due. US data starts at 1100GMT with the weekly MBA mortgage applications data, which is followed at 1200GMT by the latest Building Permits Revision and then at 1230GMT by durable goods orders, which are forecast to fall 2.0% in March after rising a revised 2.4% in February. At 1430GMT, the EIA weekly crude oil stocks data is due.  Later on, at 1630GMT, the FOMC meeting statement is due, followed at 1800GMT by the publication of the current economic projections and then at 1815GMT by a press conference with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.