Asian session: The Dollar Index touched the highest in nine months

01:30 Australia New Motor Vehicle Sales (MoM) April -0.6% -1.6%

01:30 Australia New Motor Vehicle Sales (YoY) April +4.5% +3.3%

01:30 Australia Wage Price Index, q/q Quarter I +0.8% +0.8% +0.7%

01:30 Australia Wage Price Index, y/y Quarter I +3.4% +3.3% +3.2%

05:00 Japan Consumer Confidence April 44.8 45.8 44.5

The dollar traded 0.2 percent from the strongest level in five weeks against the euro as improving sentiment toward the U.S. economy spurred speculation the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus. The Commerce Department reported this week that U.S. retail sales rose 0.1 percent last month, compared with Bloomberg survey forecast of a 0.3 percent decline. The Fed Bank of New York's general economic index probably rose to 4 this month from 3.05 in April, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before the data today.

The European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg will release preliminary data on first-quarter gross domestic product in the 17-nation euro area today. Economists forecast it slid 0.1 percent, following a 0.6 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The Dollar Index (DXY) touched the highest in nine months yesterday and U.S. Treasury yields climbed to a level unseen since March after Fed Bank of Philadelphia President Charles Plosser reiterated that the central bank should begin to curtail bond purchases. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields rose to 1.985 percent, a level unseen since March 15. Fed Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker will speak today.

The yen rallied as technical indicators signaled recent losses have been too rapid.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.2920-40

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.5215-35

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of Y102.00-30

The string of eurozone growth data continues at 0600GMT, with the release of the German Q1 flash GDP data. French data reelased earlier was broadly in linbe with expectations, down 0.2% q/q, down 0.4% y/y. German data is seen 0.3% higher on the quarter, higher by 0.2% annually. Italian Q1 GDP is set for release at 0800GMT. At 0900GMT, the overall EMU Q1 flash GDP numbers are set for release. With the ECB Council ready to countenance a further cut in official rates, these data will provide valuable input into that ongoing policy discussion. Analysts are looking for -0.1% on quarter, down 0.9% on year. UK employment data at 0830GMT, followed at 0930GMT by the BOE's Quarterly Inflation Report. Attention into the afternoon will turn to US PPI and Empire State data at 1230GMT, TICS at 1300GMT ahead of IP/Cap.Ut. at 1315GMT.